Case Report
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2010; 16(2): 270-274
Published online Jan 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i2.270
Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Single institution experience and literature review
Yasumitsu Hirano, Toru Watanabe, Tsuneyuki Uchida, Shuhei Yoshida, Kanae Tawaraya, Hideaki Kato, Osamu Hosokawa
Yasumitsu Hirano, Toru Watanabe, Tsuneyuki Uchida, Shuhei Yoshida, Kanae Tawaraya, Hideaki Kato, Osamu Hosokawa, Department of Surgery, Yokohama Sakae Kyousai Hospital, 132 Katsura-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 247-8581, Japan
Author contributions: Hirano Y, Watanabe T, Uchida T, Yoshida S, Tawaraya K, Kato H and Hosokawa O contributed equally to this work.
Correspondence to: Yasumitsu Hirano, MD, Department of Surgery, Yokohama Sakae Kyousai Hospital, 132 Katsura-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 247-8581, Japan. yasumitsuhira@yahoo.co.jp
Telephone: +81-45-8912171 Fax: +81-45-8958351
Received: August 11, 2009
Revised: September 12, 2009
Accepted: September 19, 2009
Published online: January 14, 2010
Abstract

Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is a rapidly evolving field as a bridge between traditional laparoscopic surgery and natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. We report one of the initial clinical experiences in Japan with this new technique. Four cases of gallbladder diseases were selected for this new technique. A single curved intra-umbilical 25-mm incision was made by pulling out the umbilicus. A 12-mm trocar was placed through an open approach, and the abdominal cavity was explored with a 10-mm semi-flexible laparoscope. Two 5-mm ports were inserted laterally from the laparoscope port. A 2-mm mini-loop retractor was inserted to retract the fundus of the gallbladder. Dissection was performed using an electric cautery hook and an Endograsper roticulator. There were two women and two men with a mean age of 50.5 years (range: 40-61 years). All procedures were completed successfully without any perioperative complications. In all cases, there was no need to extend the skin incision. Average operative time was 88.8 min. Postoperative follow-up didnot reveal any umbilical wound complication. Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and a promising alternative method as scarless abdominal surgery for the treatment of some patients with gallbladder disease.

Keywords: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy; Incision; Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Single-incision laparoscopic surgery; Single-incision endoscopic surgery; Minimally invasive surgery