One, two, or three ports in laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been compared with 3- or 4-port LC. To our knowledge, there are no studies comparing the 3-, 2-, and 1-port techniques. Patients were randomized into 3 groups: LC 1-port using SILS, LC 2-port using a laparoscope with a working channel, and LC 3-port using the standard ports. Pain was evaluated at recovery, 4 hours, 24 hours, day 5, and day 8, using an analog visual scale. Homogenous groups in their demographic characteristics; all confirmed gallbladder lithiasis. At recovery, there was less pain in group 1 (P = 0.002); at 4 hours pain was similar in all groups (P = 0.899); at 24 hours there was less pain in groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.031); and at days 5 and 8 there was marginal (P = 0.053) and significant (P = 0.003) relevance. In terms of pain perception, LC performed through 1 port does not offer advantages when compared with 2 or 3 ports. More clinical trials are needed to confirm these data.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review of methodology and outcomes

PURPOSE

(1) To survey the dissemination of SILC; (2) to determine which SILC method has become mainstream; (3) to determine whether the characteristic complications vary according to the type of procedure.

METHODS

An electronic search of PubMed, Databases@Ovid, and SciVerse Scopus between 2003/01/01 and 2012/12/31 was performed.

RESULTS

The peak number of annually published articles was 70 in 2011. The most common procedures were single skin incision, the use of a SILS Port(®), suture suspension and a 5-mm oblique scope. The intraoperative complications rate was 1.69 %. Postoperative complications occurred in 213/5283 cases. According to the surgical procedure, five factors (approach; P = 0.0017, gallbladder anchorage; P < 0.001, size; P = 0.049 and type; P < 0.001 of the scope, and size of the clip applier; P = 0.074) significantly affected the incidence of wound infection. The incidence of wound seroma/bleeding was significantly influenced by gallbladder anchorage (P = 0.009), the use of curved/articulated instruments (P = 0.048), and the diameter of the clip applier (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

To determine the best operative procedure for SILC, an analysis of uniform operative procedures is needed.

Single-incision versus standard multiple-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis of experimental and observational studies

OBJECTIVE

The advantages of single-incision surgery for the treatment of gallstone disease is debated. Previous meta-analyses comparing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and standard laparoscopic multiport cholecystectomy (SLMC) included few and underpowered trials. To overcome this limitation, we performed a meta-analysis of randomized and nonrandomized studies.

METHODS

A MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library literature search of studies published in and comparing SILC with SLMC was performed. The primary outcome was safety of SILC as measured by the overall rate of postoperative complications and biliary spillage. Feasibility was another primary outcome as measured by the conversion and operative time. Postoperative pain, length of hospital stay, perioperative blood loss, time to return to normal activity, and cosmetic satisfaction were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

We identified 43 studies of which 30 were observational reports and 13 experimental trials, for a total of 7489 patients (2090 SILC and 5389 SLMC). The overall rate of complications was comparable between groups (relative risk [RR] = 1.08; 95% CI = 0.87-1.35; P = .46), as were the rates of biliary spillage (RR = 1.16; 95% CI = 0.73-1.84; P = .53) and conversion rate (RR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.53-1.46; P = .62). Operative time was in favor of SLMC (weighted mean difference = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.67-0.79; P < .0001). Secondary outcomes favored SILC, but with marginal advantages.

CONCLUSIONS

SILC is a feasible technique but without any significant advantage over SLMC for relevant end points. Although secondary outcomes favored SILC, the small magnitude of the advantage and the low quality of assessment methods question the clinical significance of these benefits.

Single-incision versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated gallbladder disease: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for cholecystectomy. Recently, single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has been suggested as an alternative technique.

METHODS

Six databases were searched and reference lists of retrieved articles were checked to identify eligible studies. Data from randomized clinical trials related to the safety and effectiveness of SILC versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) were extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Odds ratio and mean differences were calculated with 95% confidence intervals based on intention-to-treat analyses whenever possible.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies with 1113 patients met the eligibility criteria. Methodologic quality was unclear in most trails. Operating time was significantly longer in the single-incision laparoscopic surgery group compared with the CLC group (P<0.00001). Cosmesis was improved in single-incision laparoscopic patients at 1 month (P<0.00001). The pooled mean difference in pain scores at 24 hours was -0.75 in favor of the SILC technique (P=0.04). There was no significant difference in the conversion rates, adverse events, analgesia requirements, or the length of hospital stay between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The current evidence shows that patients with uncomplicated cholelithiasis or polypoid lesions of the gallbladder who prefer a better cosmetic outcome, SILC offers a safe alternative to CLC. Further high-powered randomized trials are need to determine whether SILC truly offer any advantages, especially be focused on failure of technique, adverse events, cosmesis, and quality of life.

Can residents safely and efficiently be taught single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

OBJECTIVE

Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has recently emerged as an option for selected patients undergoing gallbladder removal. While SILC appears safe when performed by experienced surgeons under controlled conditions, there are no studies evaluating the SILC learning curve for incorporation into resident education and the effect on OR efficiency.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Chief residents were taught and evaluated by a single attending surgeon facile with SILC techniques. Residents were transitioned from assistants to primary surgeon during their clinical rotation. Outcomes data were prospectively tabulated compared with data from standard laparoscopic SLC and attending surgeon SILC outcomes. The setting was an academic, tertiary care teaching hospital. Participants were chief residents rotating on hepatobiliary surgery service. Residents previously had demonstrated mastery of basic laparoscopic surgical techniques.

RESULTS

Seven chief residents were evaluated with a total of 49 SILCs with a mean of 7 (range 5-12) SILCS/resident. Five conversions to SLC occurred, all within the first 3 SILCs performed by the resident as operative surgeon. Mean blood loss was 30 mL. Median length of stay was <1 day. Average length of operation increased after the first 2 cases, reflecting the transition of the attending surgeon from primary surgeon to assistant role. By the fifth case, operative times returned to the attending surgeon SILC baseline and historical operative times for SLC at our institution. Factors associated with longer-length of surgery were increasing BMI and presence of acute or chronic cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and use of intraoperative cholangiogram. Five postoperative complications occurred and were not associated with position along the resident's learning curve. One death occurred due to metastatic laryngeal cancer within 30 days of SILC.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents can safely be taught the techniques of SILC with minimal disruption to operating room efficiency. Residents already proficient in the use of standard laparoscopic techniques transition to SILC quickly with a short learning curve and proper instruction.