Background Due to safety concerns, the use of laparoscopy in high-risk colorectal surgery
patients has been limited. Small reports have demonstrated the benefit of laparoscopy in this
population; however, large comparative studies are lacking. Study Design A retrospective
review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2009 was conducted. Patients undergoing
elective colorectal resections for benign and malignant pathology were included in the high-
risk group if they had at least two of the following criteria: age> 70, obesity, smoking, anemia …