Abstract
Background. This study compares the immediate postoperative outcomes in patients who undergo
laparoscopic and open anterior lumbar spinal fusion and describes the learning curve
associated with the performance of this procedure. Methods. The charts of patients who underwent anterior lumbar spinal fusion between January
1995 and July 1999 were reviewed. Data pertaining to the operation and postoperative
course were analyzed and compared. Results. Eighty-nine patients underwent anterior lumbar spinal fusion. Fourteen patients were
excluded; a full analysis was performed on the records of the remaining 75 patients.
Fifty-five patients underwent an attempted laparoscopic procedure, and 20 patients
underwent an open procedure. The conversion rate was 38% (21/55 patients) in the group
who underwent the laparoscopic procedure. In the 34 patients whose laparoscopic procedure
was completed, there was significantly less blood loss and shorter postoperative ileus,
but the operative time was longer, when compared with patients who underwent the open
procedure. The laparoscopic procedures performed in 1999 resulted in fewer conversions,
less blood loss, and a shorter operating room time, when compared with the laparoscopic
procedures in 1998. Conclusions. Laparoscopic anterior lumbar spinal fusion improves immediate postoperative results
when compared with open anterior lumbar spinal fusion. (Surgery 2000;128:589-96.)
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Anterior fusion of the lumbar spine.J Bone Joint Surg. 1979; 61: 1143-1150
- US experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Am J Surg. 1993; 165: 450-454
- Laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy outcomes in medicare beneficiaries in member states of the large state PRE consortium.Am J Med Qual. 1995; 10: 183-189
- Antireflux surgery in the laparoscopic era.Br J Surg. 1998; 85: 1173-1184
- Laparoscopic lumbar discectomy: case report.J Laparoendosc Surg. 1991; 1: 145-149
- Transperitoneal laparoscopic approach to lumbar discectomy.Surg Laparosc Endosc. 1995; 5: 85-89
- Laparoscopic discectomy with anterior interbody fusion: a preliminary review.Spine. 1995; 20: 1797-1802
- The incidence of complications in endoscopic anterior thoracolumbar spinal reconstructive surgery: a prospective multicenter study comprising the first 100 consecutive cases.Spine. 1995; 20: 1624-1632
- Laparoscopic lumbar discectomy: preliminary report of a minimally invasive anterior approach to the herniated L5-S1 disk.Surg Laparosc Endosc. 1995; 5: 363-369
- A prospective study of laparoscopic spinal fusion: technique and operative considerations.Ann Surg. 1996; 224: 85-90
- Laparoscopic fusion of the lumbar spine: minimally invasive spine surgery: a prospective multicenter study evaluating open and laparoscopic lumbar fusion.Spine. 1999; 24: 402-411
- Is laparoscopic approach to lumbar spine fusion worthwhile?.Am J Surg. 1999; 178: 458-461
- Laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy: a comparison with mini-lap cholecystectomy.Surg Endosc. 1989; 3: 131-133
Article info
Footnotes
*Reprint requests: John F. Sweeney, MD, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, 2920G Taubman Center, Box 0331, 1500 East Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0331.
**Surgery 2000;128:589-96
Identification
Copyright
© 2000 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
