Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy using instrumental alignment in robotic single-site cholecystectomy.

Objective: There is no standardized single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) technique in contrast to robot single-site cholecystectomy (RSSC). We tried to implement the array of instruments used in RSSC to SILC.

Methods: A series of 108 consecutive patients underwent SILC between September 2014 and July 2017 by 2 surgeons. The indication was benign disease of the gallbladder. The perioperative outcomes were reviewed. We used the 4-channel Glove port and conventional laparoscopic instruments.

Results: The study subjects consisted of 29 males and 79 females, and the mean age was 44.4 years (range, 16-70 years). Mean body mass index was 24.1 kg/m2. The mean working time was 25.0 ± 10.7 minutes and total operation time was 44.4 ± 12.4 minutes. There were 7 cases of conversion (additional 1 port in 4 patients, additional 2 ports in 2, and conventional 4 port technique in 1). Bile spillage from the gallbladder during the procedure occurred in 17 (15.7%). There were no postoperative complications. Postoperative hospital stay was 2.0 ± 0.6 days.

Conclusions: The alignment of the instruments in a RSSC was successfully implemented into a SILC, so that an equally effective operation was possible.