Table 1 Eligibility Criteria

At study enrolment

• Age equal or greater than 14 years (providing informed consent by patient and by parents or legal guardian between 16–18, only patient when 18 or older)

• Patients with benign disease (familial polyposis or ulcerative colitis) scheduled for elective surgery

• Patient or guardian has given informed consent

• Both standardised surgical approaches are suitable for treatment

At the end of surgical exploration

• Suitable for restorative proctocolectomy

Exclusion Criteria

• Active malignant disease or high suspicion for malignancy (clinical and imaging evidence, e.g. higher grade dysplasia on histology) *

• Previous median laparotomy or Pfannenstiel incision (excluding limited incision such as appendectomy, cholecystectomy etc.)

• Participation in another intervention-trial with interference of intervention and outcome

• Severe psychiatric or neurologic diseases

• Drug- and/or alcohol-abuse according to local standards

• Coagulopathy