Successful treatment of a patient with an infected urachal remnant via single-incision laparoscopic surgery: Report of a case

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery for urachal remnant with extraperitoneal approach through a suprapubic port

INTRODUCTION

No standard procedure has been established for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery for urachal remnants (LESS-U). This study aimed to report the novel surgical techniques and initial outcomes of laparoendoscopic single-site surgery with an extraperitoneal approach through a suprapubic port for urachal remnants (spLESS).

METHODS

Fifty-five patients (median age, 27 years; range, 15-69 years) who underwent LESS-U were analyzed. To overcome the limitations inherent in the conventional procedure (LESS-U through an umbilical port: uLESS), we modified the port placement and approached via the extraperitoneal space. spLESS is a novel procedure which reduces intestinal damage caused by the extraperitoneal approach and overcomes incomplete resection of the urachal remnant, especially in the bladder dome. Three trocars are inserted into the extraperitoneal space through a suprapubic port in spLESS, and complete resection of the urachal remnant from the umbilicus to the bladder is performed with an appropriate incision line. Patient characteristics and perioperative results were retrospectively collected. Cosmetic outcomes were prospectively evaluated using self-administered questionnaires (body image and photo-series questionnaire).

RESULTS

spLESS and uLESS were performed in 43 and 12 patients, respectively. No differences were observed between the perioperative results. The cosmetic outcomes were compared between the groups using body image and photo-series questionnaires. No patient developed major complications; there was no recurrence in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

spLESS is a novel procedure which can completely resect the urachal remnant and reduce the risk of intestinal damage. spLESS is a safe, effective, and feasible procedure with high postoperative cosmesis.

Transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site surgery versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for patients with symptomatic urachal remnants: an experience with 57 patients

PURPOSE

To evaluate the surgical feasibility and postoperative cosmesis of a novel transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgical approach involving Y-shaped incisions and three-flap umbilicoplasty in urachal remnant patients.

METHODS

Patients with symptomatic urachal remnants who underwent either conventional laparoscopic surgery (CL group, n = 21) or LESS surgery with Y-shaped incisions and three-flap umbilicoplasty (LESS group, n = 36) between May 2010 and September 2019 were retrospectively assessed. Perioperative factors and postoperative esthetic outcomes were compared between the groups using univariate and multivariate analyses. Esthetic outcomes were assessed using the body image questionnaire consisting of the body image scale (BIS) and the cosmetic scale (CS); a higher score indicated a better outcome.

RESULTS

The median operative time was greater and the insufflation time was shorter in the LESS group than in the CL group. The estimated blood loss and postoperative hospital stay and surgical site infection rate did not differ significantly between the groups. While the BIS score also did not differ significantly between the groups, the CS score was greater in the LESS group than in the CL group. Multivariate analysis revealed that the surgery type (LESS surgery) was an independent predictor of greater postoperative esthetic satisfaction.

CONCLUSION

Transumbilical LESS surgery with Y-shaped incisions and subsequent three-flap umbilicoplasty is feasible in patients with symptomatic urachal remnants. Regarding postoperative cosmesis, the higher CS score suggests that this technique is superior to CL surgery. Furthermore, the selection of this procedure was an independent predictor of good postoperative esthetic outcomes.