Laparoscopic colorectal surgery involves inserting laparoscopic instruments through a number of ports in the abdominal wall to dissect tissues around the tumour. The tumour is usually removed through an abdominal incision, the length of which depends on the size of the tumour.
Laparoscopically assisted surgery refers to laparoscopic surgery in which the incision is enlarged to complete the dissection before the tumour is removed. The difference between laparoscopic and laparoscopically assisted surgery is minor, and both approaches have the advantage of requiring an abdominal incision smaller than that used in open resection. Hand-port-assisted laparoscopic surgery involves the use of a hand-port through which a gloved hand is inserted intracorporeally.