AIM:To study the short-term outcome of patients treated with laparoscopic right colectomy and how intracorporeal anastomosis has improved the outcome.METHODS:We retrospectively examined all patients affected by colorectal cancer who underwent a laparoscopic right colectomy between January 2006 and December 2010 in our department.Our evaluation criteria were:diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma at presurgical biopsy,elective surgery,and the same surgeon.We excluded:emergency surgery,conversions from laparotomic colectomy,and other surgeons.The endpoints we examined were:surgical time,number of lymph nodes removed,length of stay(removal of nasogastric tube,bowel movements,gas evacuation,solid and liquid feeding,hospitalization),and major complications.Seventy-two patients were divided into two groups:intracorporeal anastomosis(39 patients)and extracorporeal anastomosis(33 patients).RESULTS:Significant differences were observed between intracorporeal vs extracorporeal anastomosis,respectively,for surgical times(186.8 min vs 184.1 min,P < 0.001),time to resumption of gas evacuation(3 d vs 3.5 d,P < 0.001),days until resumption of bowel movements(3.8 d vs 4.9 d,P < 0.001),days until resumption of liquid diet(3.5 d vs 4.5 d,P < 0.001),days until resuming a solid diet(4.6 d vs 5.7 d,P < 0.001),and total hospitalization duration(7.4 d vs 8.5 d,P < 0.001).In the intracorporeal group,on average,19 positive lymph nodes were removed;in the extracorporeal group,on average,14 were removed P < 0.001).Thus,intracorporeal anastomosis for right laparoscopic colectomy improved patient outcome by providing faster recovery of nutrition,faster recovery of intestinal function,and shorter hospitalization than extracorporeal anastomosis.CONCLUSION:Short-term outcomes favor intracorporeal anastomosis,confirming that a less traumatic surgical approach improves patient outcome. AIM: To study the short-term outcome of patients treated with laparoscopic right colectomy and how intracorporeal anastomosis has improved the outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively examined all patients affected by colorectal cancer who underwent a laparoscopic right colectomy between January 2006 and December 2010 in our department.Our evaluation criteria were: diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma at presurgical biopsy, elective surgery, and the same surgeon. we excluded: emergency surgery, conversions from laparotomic colectomy, and other surgeons. endpoints we examined were: surgical time, number of lymph Two patients were divided into two groups: intracorporeal anastomosis (39 patients) and extracorporeal anastomosis (39 patients) 33 patients) .RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between intracorporeal vs extracorporeal anastomosis, eachl y, for surgical times (186.8 min vs. 184.1 min, P <0.001), time to resumption of gas evacuation (3 d vs 3.5 d, P <0.001), days until resumption of bowel movements 0.001), days until resumption of liquid diet (3.5 d vs 4.5 d, P <0.001), days until resuming a solid diet (4.6 d vs 5.7 d, P <0.001) P <0.001). The intracorporeal group, on average, 19 positive lymph nodes were removed; in the extracorporeal group, on average, 14 were removed P <0.001). Thus, intracorporeal anastomosis for right laparoscopic colectomy improved patient outcome by providing faster recovery of nutrition, faster recovery of intestinal function, and shorter hospitalization than extracorporeal anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Short-term suggestions favor intracorporeal anastomosis, confirming that a less traumatic surgical approach improves patient outcome.