OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical use of laparoscopy in diagnosis and surgical treatment in small intestinal tumors.

METHODSClinical data of 42 patients with small intestinal tumor undergoing laparoscopic diagnosis and surgical procedure from Sep. 2003 to Dec. 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The operative time, blood loss,length of incision, time for passage of flatus, post-operative hospital stay and operative complications were evaluated.

RESULTSAll the patients were diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic procedure successfully, including 4 laparoscopic local resection of the tumors, 36 laparoscopy-assisted partial intestinal resections, 1 right hemicolectomy, and 1 laparoscopic exploration. The mean operative time was (73.1+/-32.9) min, the mean blood loss was (20.7+/-31.2) ml, the mean length of incision was (3.7+/-1.2) cm, the mean time for passage of flatus was (2.2+/-0.8) d, and the post-operative hospital stay was (8.0+/-3.1) d. Postoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (4.8% ) including anastomosis bleeding and adhesive intestinal obstruction in one case respectively. After follow-up from 3 to 30 months, no recurrent tumor was found except one patient with advanced intestinal carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic exploration can diagnose small intestinal tumors accurately, and laparoscopy-assisted surgical treatment is safe with less trauma and fast recovery.