Single port access laparoscopic cholecystectomy (with video)

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Innovation
• Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

• Single port access (SPA) surgery is advancing, offering cosmetic benefits similar to natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) while enabling the use of standard laparoscopic instruments.
• SPA cholecystectomy aims to combine the aesthetic advantages of NOTES with the practicality of conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a technique for umbilical SPA cholecystectomy using standard laparoscopic instruments.
• To evaluate the feasibility and safety of SPA cholecystectomy in a preliminary patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study evaluated 11 patients undergoing SPA cholecystectomy.
• Patients had diagnoses including symptomatic gallbladder lithiasis, acute cholecystitis, and biliary pancreatitis.
• Standard laparoscopic instruments were utilized for the SPA procedure.

Main Results:

• SPA cholecystectomy was successfully performed in all 11 patients.
• The median operative time was 52 minutes.
• No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed, with a median hospital stay under 24 hours.

Conclusions:

• SPA cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe procedure for experienced laparoscopic surgeons using standard instruments.
• Currently, SPA cholecystectomy appears safer than the NOTES approach.
• Further research is needed to determine patient benefits beyond cosmesis compared to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy.