Previous stoma site for the extraction of specimen in patients undergoing laparoscopic rectal surgery: Report of two cases

Abstract

An abdominal incision is generally accepted to be a necessity for the extraction of the specimen during laparoscopic colorectal surgery, except the cases receive an abdominoperineal excision. Exceptionally more minimally invasive incisions and natural orifice techniques have been reported. Current study aims to describe previous stoma site as a novel location for specimen extraction. We have reported two cases (a 80-year-old male and a 73-year-old female), for whom resection of rectal or rectosigmoidal tumors could not be achieved, and a diverting colostomy was decided at the time of previous laparotomy. Patients were referred to our hospital for further evaluation, and a laparoscopic anterior or low anterior resection was achieved in both cases. Previous stoma sites were used for the extraction of the tumor, however the stoma site was lengthened with 1.5 cm long incision in a case. Previous stoma site was used for the location of diverting ileostomy in the patient who received low anterior resection. No intra- or postoperative complication was occurred, and both cases were discharged from the hospital on day 6. We believe that previous stoma sites may be considered as the locations for specimen extraction in suitable patients in order to eliminate the necessity of an abdominal incision during laparoscopic colorectal surgery.