OBJECTIVE To determine to what extent segmental colectomy could be avoided in patients with polyps though to be endoscopically unresectable by using combination laparoscopy and endoscopy. METHODS Sixty-five patients referred for colonic polyps though to be unresectably by conventional endoscopy were studied. After analysis of the endoscopic findings, endoscopy was performed in a medicosurgical unit when possible, otherwise a surgical procedure was performed consisting of laparoscopy followed by colonoscopy. Therapeutic strategy depended on laparoscopic and endoscopic findings. RESULTS Segmental colectomy was avoided in 44 patients (67.7%). Among them, 20 were treated by simple endoscopic polyp removal, 12 by laparoscopy-assisted colonoscopic polypectomy, 9 by laparoscopic wedge colonic resection and 3 by colotomy after colonic exteriorization and polyp resection. Laparoscopic or laparoscopy-assisted segmental colectomy was performed in 16. Segmental colectomy by laparotomy was necessary in 5. No complication occurred. CONCLUSIONS Segmental colectomy for unresectable colonic polyps could be avoided in more than half of the patients using laparoscopy and colonoscopy combinations.