The Incidence of Trocar Site Hernia After Single-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy–A Single Center Analysis and Literature Review

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the modified bikini line approach as a simple and safe technique

OBJECTIVE

The gold standard technique for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is using four ports in the upper abdomen. However, this operative approach may not provide aesthetic satisfaction for some patients because of visible incision marks. This study sought to demonstrate that these incision marks can be hidden by safely changing the port locations.

METHODS

For patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis undergoing LC between March 2019 and March 2020, the modified bikini line approach was used. With the patient in the supine position with open legs, the first trocar (10 mm) was inserted into the abdomen through an 11-mm incision in the umbilicus. The other three trocars were placed in the abdomen at the bikini line with the help of a camera. The standard equipment for LC was then used to perform the surgery.

RESULTS

The modified bikini line approach to LC was used for 38 patients. Average operative time was 28.65 min, and the average hospital stay was 1.07 days. No perioperative or postoperative complications occurred. Follow-up was at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months. Cosmetic results were satisfactory for all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

As an alternative to the standard LC approach, the modified bikini line technique is safe and useful in patients for whom postoperative aesthetic appearance is important. The modified approach is simple to learn and use and is effective to hide the incision marks well.

Long-term follow-up of the incisional hernia rate after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective observational study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term occurrence rate of incisional hernias following single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC).

BACKGROUND

Since the 90 s, SILC has emerged as a less invasive alternative to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy in selected patients. But concerns over port-incisional hernias have not been addressed.

METHODS

Between February 2009 and February 2011, 142 patients referred for gallstones who agreed to undergo SILC were included in a monocenter prospective observational study. All of the procedures were carried out using a single-port access technique. The occurrence rates of incisional hernias were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier actuarial method. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.

RESULTS

A total of 142 patients with gallbladder pathology were included in the study; 138 of them underwent SILC and 4 were converted to standard multiport cholecystectomy. Twelve patients (8%) were found to have developed a port-site incisional hernia (PSH) by physical examination or by imaging. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the rate of PSH development was 83% in the first 2 years after surgery. After 2 years, this risk becomes quite low.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the SILC procedure is a safe option for treatment of benign gallbladder diseases for selected patients, albeit with a high incisional hernia rate.

Risk factors of incisional hernia after single-incision cholecystectomy and safety of barbed suture material for wound closurewound closure

Purpose

Single-incision cholecystectomy is a surgical method that offers comparable results to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, a high risk of postoperative incisional hernia is an issue in single-incision cholecystectomy. This study evaluated the risk factors and incidences of incisional hernia after single-incision cholecystectomy and the advantage issue of using barbed suture material during wound closures.

Methods

A total of 1,111 patients underwent laparoscopic or robotic single-incision cholecystectomy between March 2014 and February 2020 at our institution at CHA Bundang Medical Center. During this period, there were 693 patients who underwent wound closure with monofilament suture material (Monosyn 2-0; B. Braun) and the other 418 patients used barbed suture material (Stratafix 2-0; Ethicon).

Results

The two patient groups were comparable in age, body mass index, and diagnosis. The total incidence of incisional hernia after single-incision cholecystectomy was 0.5% (five cases). All patients who developed incisional hernia were in the monofilament suture material group (0.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.021). The influence of predictive and possible risk factors on incisional hernia rate was analyzed. Among these factors, only old age was an independent predictive risk factor of incisional hernia.

Conclusion

Our study showed a low incidence of incisional hernia, all of which occurred in the monofilament suture material group. If technically appropriate, single-incision cholecystectomy does not appear to present a high incidence of hernia. Barbed suture material can be safely applied in wound closure showing comparable incisional hernia incidence to monofilament suture material.

Low long-term incidence of incisional hernia after cholecystectomy: A systematic review with meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Various surgical approaches are available for cholecystectomy, but their long-term outcomes, such as incidence of incisional hernia, are largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the long-term incidence of incisional hernia after cholecystectomy for different surgical approaches.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. A protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020178906). Three databases were searched for original studies on long-term complications of cholecystectomy with n > 40 and follow-up ≥6 months for incisional hernia. Risk of bias within the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Cochrane "risk of bias" tool. Meta-analysis of the incidence of incisional hernia after 6 and 12 months was conducted when possible.

RESULTS

We included 89 studies. Of these, 77 reported on multiport or single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Twelve studies reported on open cholecystectomy and 4 studies on robotic cholecystectomy. Weighted mean incidence proportion of incisional hernia after multi-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 0.3% (95% confidence interval 0-0.6) after 6 months and 0.2% after 12 months (95% confidence interval 0.1-0.3). Weighted mean incidence of incisional hernia 12 months postoperatively was 1.5% (95% confidence interval 0.4-2.6) after open cholecystectomy and 4.5% (95% confidence interval 0.4-8.6) after single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No meta-analysis could be conducted for robotic cholecystectomy, but incidences ranged from 0% to 16.7%.

CONCLUSION

We found low 1-year incidences of incisional hernia after multiport laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, whereas risks of incisional hernia were considerably higher after single-incision laparoscopic and robotic cholecystectomy.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Incisional Hernia After Single-Incision Endoscopic Surgery

Introduction: Abdominal wall complications are one of the most controversial issues regarding single-incision endoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and risk factors of incisional hernia after single-incision endoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: An observational retrospective study was performed, on a cohort of patients cholecystectomized laparoscopically through a transumbilical single incision due to gallbladder lithiasis or polyps. Postoperative complications were analyzed, with special interest in the incisional hernia rate, whose results were assessed in the long-term follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also performed to evaluate possible variables associated with the appearance of incisional hernia. Cumulative sum charts (CUSUM) were used to identify trends in the incisional hernia risk. Results: Some 109 patients were included in the study. With a mean follow-up of nearly 38 months, an incisional hernia incidence of 5.5% was found, with 67% being diagnosed during the first year of follow-up. In the Cox regression analysis, two variables showed an independent association with the emergence of incisional hernia, body mass index (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI 1.053-1.606]; P .015), and wound infection (HR 26.32; [3.186-217.40]; P .002]. CUSUM charts showed a decrease in the risk of incisional hernia after the first 10 cases. Conclusions: Single-incision endoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a substantially high risk of postoperative incisional hernia (5.5%).

Single-Port Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Better Cosmesis at the Price of an Increased Incisional Hernia Rate?

Background: The incidence of trocar site hernia (TSH) in single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPC) is still a debated issue. Aim of this retrospective study was to compare the incidence of postoperative hernia and cosmetic results among patients undergoing SPC and multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy (MPC) performed at a single institution. Methods: A series of 60 SPC and 60 MPC patients operated on between July 2016 and May 2018 were compared. Primary endpoint was to assess the incidence of TSH at long term. All the patients were admitted as outpatients for physical examination and scar measurement. Secondary endpoints were the cosmetic results assessed by a cosmesis score (CS) and the body image questionnaire (BIQ). Results: After a median 18-month follow-up (range: 6-29 months), a hernia in umbilical trocar site was detected in 4 (7.1%) SPC patients and 1 (2%) MPC patient, the difference not being statistically significant (P = .216). BIQ was almost equivalent in SPC and MPC groups (5.15 versus 5.27; P = .518), respectively. Statistically significant differences in favor of SPC were found in CS (22.3 versus 19.72; P = .001) and in total length of scars (1.2 cm versus 4 cm; P < .001). Conclusions: SPC technique has proved to be safe and effective in experienced hands. Superior cosmesis of SPC over MPC is confirmed, but close attention to fascial closure is a vital component of SPC, and surgeons performing single-site surgery need to be aware of this increased potential for hernia formation.

Long-term follow-up after single-incision laparoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is growing in popularity. The increased diameter of the umbilical incision might raise questions about the possibility of a greater risk of postoperative incisional hernia in comparison to conventional laparoscopy. This study aims to disclose the frequency of incisional hernia after SILS in long-term follow-up as well as to reveal the factors predisposing patients to this feared complication.

METHODS

The patient collective consists of cholecystectomy and appendectomy patients, who were operated on using SILS technique. Follow-up was achieved through letter correspondence, telephone interview, and clinical examination. Effects of demographic variables and operative parameters including age, sex, BMI, ASA score, duration of surgery, pre-existing hernia as well as postoperative incidence of incisional hernia were investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 286 cases with complete follow-up were included in the analyses. Mean follow-up duration was 58.4 months. 192 patients (67.1%) underwent cholecystectomy; 94 (32.9%) had an appendectomy. The study collective consisted of 218 women (76.2%) and 68 men (23.8%). Mean age at the date of the operation was 38.5 (median 36, range 13-74). In 5 cases (1.7%), the surgical approach was converted into conventional laparoscopy. Intraoperative complication rate was 0.3% and postoperative complication rate was 5.9%. 7 patients (2.4%) developed an incisional hernia. Obese patients had an incisional hernia incidence of 10.9%. 3 out of 19 patients (15.8%) with a pre-existing umbilical hernia developed an incisional hernia during follow-up. Obesity and pre-existing umbilical hernia proved to have a significant association with incisional hernia incidence in univariate and multivariate analyses. Sex, age, procedure (appendectomy vs cholecystectomy), presence of acute inflammation, and duration of surgery did not show a statistically significant association with incisional hernia.

CONCLUSION

Detection of incisional hernia necessitates a long follow-up duration. Obesity and pre-existing umbilical hernia are associated with a higher incidence of this complication. Following a careful patient selection, SILS offers a safe approach for cholecystectomy and appendectomy procedures.

Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with Mirizzi syndrome

Since multiport laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a standard treatment for gallbladder (GB) disease, a single incision laparoscopic surgical technique has been tried to decrease the surgical site pain and achieve a better cosmetic out come in selected patients. The development of devices dedicated for single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is expanding the indication of this single incision laparoscopic technique to more complicated GB diseases. Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is one of the complex uncommon gallstone diseases in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Because the laparoscopic procedure has become a routine treatment for cholecystectomy, several studies have reported their experience with the laparoscopic technique for the treatment of MS with a comparable outcome in Csendes type I or II. Because the indication for SILC cholecystectomy is expanded to more complicated GB conditions, and the desire of patients for a less painful, better cosmetic surgical outcome has increased, our medical center used this single incision laparoscopic surgical technique for MS Csendes types I and II patients. Here, we report 2 successful cases of SILC for patients with MS types I and II without significant morbidity.

Single Port and Conventional Laparoscopy in Colorectal Surgery: Comparison of Two Techniques

BACKGROUND

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) was introduced to further the enhanced outcome of conventional multiport laparoscopy (CML). We compared their short- and long-term outcomes in colorectal surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery during 3-year period. Patients' data, surgery outcomes, and oncological results were compared.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients (33 male, 28 female), mean age 67.4 years, underwent laparoscopic colonic resections: 28 SILS and 33 CML. Twenty-three (37.7%) patients had previous abdominal surgery. There were 19 (31.2%) right, 9 (14.7%) left, and 2 (3.3%) total colectomies, 16 (26.2%) sigmoidectomies, 13 (21.3%) anterior and 2 (3.3%) abdominoperineal resections. Colonic malignancy was a main indication for the surgery in 51 (83.6%) patients. Mean surgery time and postoperative stay were 92.0 minutes and 9 days, respectively. Pathological examination revealed stage I colon cancer in 16 (32%), stage II in 22 (44%), stage III in 10 (20%), and stage IV in 2 (4%) patients. Mean number of retrieved lymph nodes was 19 ± 13.5. No differences were found between groups in demographic data, type of surgery, surgery time and hospital stay, pathological results and tumor staging, and disease-free and overall survivals. In the SILS group, placement of additional trocar was required in 7 (25%) and conversion in 3 (10.7%) cases compared with 1 (3%) case of conversion to formal laparotomy in the CML group. Overall postoperative morbidity was 16.4%. There was no mortality in both the groups. During the study period, 3 patients from the CML group had cancer recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

SILS is a feasible and safe technique compared with CML in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes.