Single-port transumbilical endoscopic cholecystectomy: a new standard?

Objective: Single-port transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPTLC) may become a standard procedure in the surgical treatment of acute and chronic gallbladder diseases. The initial experience with this new technique is reported.

Methods: 186 patients underwent laparoscopic single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy between September 2008 and February 2010 at the Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban, Berlin, Germany. All these operations were performed with conventional straight laparascopic instruments using a single-port system.

Results: Conversion to a three-port technique or open procedure became necessary in four patients after failure to perform the single-port method. The average age of the 120 women (64%) and 66 men (36%) was 45 (range 15-88 years) years. The ASA grade (American Society of Anesthesiologists) averaged 2 (range, 1-3) and the BMI 28.5 (range 17-49). Mean operative time was 63 min (range, 28-17 min). 48 patients (26%) had histopathological evidence of acute cholecystitis. During a mean follow-up period of 39 weeks (range 1-78 weeks), 11 patients (6%) developed complications related to the surgery, five of these patients (3%) requiring a subsequent re-operation.

Conclusions: Single-port transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute and chronic gallbladder disease is a feasible approach for routine cholecystectomy. After a short learning curve the operation time and rate of complications are comparable to standard multi-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A limitation of the procedure are very obese patients and multiple previously performed abdominal operations.