Laparoscopic colectomy may be safely performed without preoperative mechanical bowel preparation, although difficult localization may lead to a slightly higher conversion rate. Appropriate patient selection for laparoscopic colectomy without mechanical bowel preparation is essential. Furthermore, bowel preparation should be considered in cases of small and nonpalpable lesions.

TP-US is a useful complementary technique to assess fistula-in-ano and has special advantage when there is anal canal distortion, complex fistula type or suspicion of a recto-vaginal fistula.

This preliminary experience suggests that laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with a morbidity rate comparable with that for the conventional open procedure. However, laparoscopic surgery for malignant pancreatic tumors remains controversial. Larger series with longer follow-up periods are necessary to determine the role of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of pancreatic pathologies.

Local excision of early rectal cancer is a feasible and acceptable alternative to radical resection. It has low complication and recurrence rates and a short postoperative hospital stay.