The laparoscopic surgery for diverticular disease has become a very good alternative. The hand-assisted allows combining the advantages of conventional surgery such as tactile perception, masses mobilization without trauma, vascular control with the magnifying laparoscopic view. Difficult cases of diverticulitis can be treated with the hand-assisted approach. The authors revised the literature and describe the technique utilized in 2 cases of complicated diverticulitis. RESULTS: Two patients were operated on a hand-assisted approach. One had fistula with the bladder. The operative time was 183 minutes and hospitalization period about 4 days. Other had a sigmoid abscess. The operative time was 145 minutes and hospitalization period about 5 days. There were no morbidities. CONCLUSION: The hand-assisted approach allies advantages of both methods and it seems to be safer and fast allowing laparoscopic techniques for complicated diverticulitis. More studies are necessary.
Colectomy; hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy; diverticular disease; diverticulitis
