Includes bibliographical references and index

Laparoscopic colon resections are being performed with increasing frequency in the United States, though the use of minimally invasive techniques in colorectal surgery has lagged behind its application in other surgical fields. Since the first laparoscopic colectomy was described in 1991, a great deal of controversy has surrounded its use, particularly in the management of colorectal cancer. Several important new studies1-3 have demonstrated the benefits and safety of laparoscopic colorectal surgery, making it now the preferred approach in the surgical management of many colorectal diseases