Background: Laparoscopic surgery has positioned itself as the standard procedure for the treatment of benign and malignant surgical colorectal pathology.It was described by Jacobs and Verdeja in 1991 and it has spread throughout the world, however, due to several situations it was only until a few years ago that it reached developing countries, which is why its indications (benign or malignant pathology), procedures performed and associated morbidity and mortality are unknown. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted including all the population undergoing colorectal surgery of the service of Coloproctology's at Hospital Universitario Mayor Mederi, in the period between 2012 and 2017. Results: This study found that 442 patients were operated through laparoscopy, 54.1% were women, the average age was 65.1 years, and 80.2% of patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. There was a percentage of 29.2% of complications, hospital stay had a median of 9 days and mortality was found to be of 6.3%. The use of drain, the ASA III and IV classification, as well as right hemicolectomy, total colectomy, abdominoperineal resection and stoma closure were associated with the presence of complications. Transfusions prior to procedures, low values of hemoglobin, low nutritional status,usage of drain, conversions to open surgery, advanced tumor stages, presence of complications and greater time of onset of intestinal transit were factors associated to the increase of hospital stay. Conclusion: It is feasible to perform the laparoscopic approach in all malignant and benign diseases. Complications and length of hospital stay are acceptable compared to experience and foreign literature.
