Early Experience with Laparoscopic Colectomy for Colon Adenocarcinoma: A Single-Center Case Series from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract Background Laparoscopic colectomy has become standard for colon cancer in high-resource settings, offering faster recovery and comparable oncologic outcomes to open surgery. However, data on its feasibility and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, remain limited. Methods This retrospective case series included all patients who underwent elective laparoscopic or laparoscopic-assisted colectomy for colon adenocarcinoma at MCM Specialized Comprehensive Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between January 2022 and December 2025. Patients with stage IV disease, emergency presentations, or incomplete records were excluded. Outcomes assessed included operative time, conversion rate, lymph node yield, margin status, postoperative complications, length of stay, and 30-day mortality. Results Nine patients (six female, 67%; with a mean age 57.3 ± 10.9 years) underwent left (n = 6), right (n = 1), or extended right (n = 2) hemicolectomy. Mean operative time was 3.9 hours, and one patient (11%) required conversion to open surgery. The mean lymph node yield was 15, with at least 12 nodes retrieved in eight patients (89%). All patients achieved R0 resection. There were no postoperative complications, 30-day deaths, or readmissions. The mean hospital stay was 5.6 days. Conclusion In this small single-center series, laparoscopic colectomy for colon adenocarcinoma was technically feasible, with R0 resection in all patients, adequate lymph node retrieval in 8 of 9, and no recorded 30-day complications or mortality. Because of the small sample, absence of a comparator, and lack of long-term follow-up, these findings do not establish safety or oncologic equivalence. Larger prospective multicenter studies are needed.