Perforation of the colon during colonoscopy for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes is an important but not a frequent complication. Bibliographic controversies exist upon the type of treatment either conservative or surgical. In the late years reported cases favorise a trial for conservative treatment under optimal clinical conditions. We report our late experience with 3 cases of iatrogenic colonic perforation treated laparoscopically. Direct visualisation of the local status, the possibility of simple colonic oversew, abdominal toilette and drainage are the advantages of the method on which it should be added the psychological comfort for the surgeon and his gastroenterologist.

Laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery is technically feasible with acceptable morbidity and low mortality. An oncologic adequate resection can be performed. To determine whether the recurrence rates and the survival data are equivalent to open surgery, prospective randomized trials are necessary.