Introduction and objective:
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in males and the second in females in the Świętokrzyskie region of southeast Poland. In 2015, 354 new colorectal cancer cases in males and 290 in females were reported. Minimally invasive procedures with a modern approach to preoperative care have become a new challenge for the surgeon and a link to robotic surgery. The aim of the study is to analysis surgical complications in the first years from the introduction of laparoscopic procedures for colorectal cancer surgery.

Materials and method:
Laparoscopic colon resection started at the Department of Surgical Oncology of the Świętokrzyskie Cancer Centre in 2011. The method was applied in the treatment of 196 patients mainly with malignant tumour of the colon and the rectum. In 30.6% of patients, open conversion to the procedure was performed. Complications and long-term results were analysed, assessing the operating time, length of hospital stay, local complications as well as early and late mortality.

Results:
The duration of laparoscopic procedures was longer compared to the treatment through laparotomy. The median of hospital stay was seven days. The following complications were observed: infection of the surgical wound in 4.1% patients, bleeding or wound dehiscence and hernia anastomosis in 2.4% patients. The conversion was performed in 58 patients, most often because of adhesions (42%) or extensive infiltration of tumour (39%). Early postoperative mortality of up to 30 days after the surgery was observed in 0.5% patient, while within a year after surgery – in 8.2% of patients.

Conclusions:
In the course of laparoscopic colon resection, no increase was observed in the number of perioperative complications. A large percentage of conversion demonstrates the need for further training of the operating team.