Single-incision lift laparoscopic appendicectomy: a less expensive technique easy to learn

Appendicectomy is the most common abdominal operation performed on an emergency basis in most parts of the world. The laparoscopic technique has many advantages over conventional open surgery especially in women and obese patients. A further improved version introduced recently is using a single-incision (SILS). Inducing a pneumoperitoneum, as a necessary precondition of laparoscopic procedures, represents a restriction of the surgeon's freedom of movement and can lead to typical though rare complications. Gasless laparoscopic surgery has most of the advantages of laparoscopic surgery without many of the disadvantages. It is also less expensive, and can be combined with regional anaesthesia. Furthermore, fewer disposable materials are necessary. We describe a series of single umbilical incision gasless laparoscopic appendicectomies performed in rural areas of India.