The feasibility of gasless single-port access laparoscopy in overweight patients undergoing adnexal surgery

To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of gasless single-port access (SPA) laparoscopy in overweight patients undergoing adnexal surgery.

A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of 118 patients who underwent gasless SPA laparoscopic adnexal surgery using J-shaped or triangular-shaped retractors between May 2017 and June 2022. Patients were categorized into overweight (BMI ≥ 23) and standard-weight (BMI < 23) groups. Surgical characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Out of 118 patients, 41 were in the overweight group, and 77 were in the standard-weight group. Significant differences were observed in age (p = 0.001), the number of previous abdominal surgeries (p = 0.001), and the number of subjects who had given birth (p = 0.004), all higher in the overweight group. There were no significant differences between the groups in setup time from umbilical skin incision to abdominal wall retraction, use of additional TROCARS: operation time, estimated blood loss, or length of postoperative hospital stay. No serious intraoperative complications, such as urologic, bowel, and vessel injuries were noted in either group. Tumor diameter (p < 0.001), bilaterality (p < 0.001), presence of adhesion (p = 0.026), and setup diameter of the retractor (p = 0.001) significantly correlated with operation time in multivariate analysis (Adjusted R² = 0.645).

Gasless SPA laparoscopic adnexal surgery in overweight patients is a feasible and effective alternative to conventional SPA laparoscopy, mitigating the potential negative effects of carbon dioxide gas.