Left Sided Colon Removal
 

A 1.0cm incision is made below the umbilicus to place a port for the camera. One 1.2cm and two 0.5cm incisions are made on the abdomen to place ports for the instruments.

The surgeon stands on the patient's left side. Only one assistant is necessary during laparoscopic colon surgery in contrast to traditional surgery in which two assistants are required. A robotic arm on the surgeon's side holds the camera. Two monitors are present: one at the foot the operating table and one at the patient's shoulder.

The left colon is freed from its internal attachments and cut within the pelvis below the diseased portion of colon. The 1.0cm incision at the umbilicus is then extended to 4.5cm in order to bring the left colon outside of the body with the diseased portion attached. The diseased section of colon is then removed. The tip of the stapler is attached to the normal bowel and dropped back into the abdominal cavity. The body of the stapler is inserted through the rectum from below and the anastamosis is performed.