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A b s t r a c t Introduction: Single incision transumbilical laparoscopic procedures are the next step in development of minimally invasive surgery. Recent studies prove that the new technique can be a safe alternative to multiport laparoscopy; therefore it is becoming more and more popular. Aim: We present our preliminary experience with single incision laparoscopy of the spleen. Material and methods: We analyse a group of 9 patients (7 women and 2 men) in whom we attempted single incision laparoscopic surgery of the spleen. Results: Single incision laparoscopy was successful in all patients - in 7 of them we performed splenectomy and in 2 unroofing of the splenic cyst. Additionally, in 3 patients we performed concomitant cholecystectomy. The operative technique was identical to multiport procedures. One patient required reoperation due to intra-abdominal bleeding from the wound on the first postoperative day. In one patient due to superficial injury of the stomach wall continuous suture was used to prevent perforation. In our opinion these complications are not the result of the new technique. Conclusions: The described technique can become a safe alternative to multiport laparoscopy. It is a reasonable alter - native in young patients to whom an excellent cosmetic effect is particularly important because until now it is the only documented advantage of this surgical technique. more...

Laparoscopic colon surgery that incorporates multimodal perioperative care may allow patients to be discharged within the first 24 hours., Background and Objectives: A short hospital stay is one of the main advantages of laparoscopic surgery. Previous studies have shown that after a multimodal fast-track process, the hospital length of stay can be shortened to between 2 and 5 days. The objective of this review is to show that the hospital length of stay can, in some cases, be reduced to more...

These data support the supposition that senior surgical residents can be trained to complete a single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy with the same efficacy as traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy., Introduction: As attending surgeons' comfort with single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) grows, and with continued improvement in surgical instruments, advanced laparoscopic techniques are increasingly being incorporated into surgical training. The aim of our study was to evaluate resident performance and patient outcomes in patients undergoing resident-performed SILS versus a resident-performed traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods: A retrospective case-control study of 80 patients undergoing elective surgical intervention with a resident-performed SILS (n = 20) or a resident-performed traditional LC (n = 60) for gallbladder disease over a 15-month period was performed. Surgical indications, common perioperative variables, complications, and length of stay were reviewed, and all variables were evaluated for statistical significance. Results: Median operative times were similar for the resident-performed SILS cohort and the resident-performed traditional LC cohort (70.0 minutes and 66.0 minutes, respectively; P = .54). There were no complications in either the resident-performed SILS or resident-performed traditional LC groups. There was no difference in mean length of hospital stay between the resident-performed SILS group and resident-performed traditional LC group (0.95 days and 1.10 days, respectively; P = .50). Conclusion: Our data strongly support the ability to train senior residents to complete a SILS technique safely and with the same efficacy as with traditional LC. more...

The authors report that a laparoscopic technique could facilitate orthotopic kidney transplantation in selected patients., Background and Objectives: Laparoscopic surgery has rapidly expanded in surgical practice with well-accepted benefits of minimal incision, less analgesia, better cosmetics, and quick recovery. The surgical technique for kidney transplantation has remained unchanged since the first successful kidney transplant in the 1950s. Over the past decade, there were only a few case reports of kidney transplantation by laparoscopic or robotic surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a laparoscopic technique for kidney transplantation at the region of the native kidney. Methods: After initial development of the laparoscopic technique for kidney transplant in cadaveric pigs, 5 live pigs (Sus scrofa, weighing 45–50 kg) underwent laparoscopic kidney transplant under general anesthesia. First, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was performed, and then the kidney was perfused and preserved with cold Ross solution. The orthotopic auto-transplant was subsequently performed using the laparoscopic technique. The blood flow of the kidney graft was assessed using Doppler ultrasonography, and urine output was monitored. Results: The laparoscopic kidney transplant was successful in 4 live pigs. Immediate urine output was observed in 3 pigs. The blood flow in the kidney was adequate, as determined using Doppler ultrasonography. Conclusion: It has been shown that laparoscopic kidney orthotopic transplant is feasible and safe in the pig model. Immediate kidney graft function can be achieved. A further study will be considered to identify the potential surgical morbidity and mortality after recovery in a pig model before translating the technique to clinical human kidney transplantation. more...

Results of this study suggest that strategic laparoscopy for improved cosmesis cholecystectomy is feasible, safe, and decreases the cumulative incision length as well as the number of incisions in patients with favorable body habitus and previous surgical history., Background and Objectives: Until the advent of single-incision laparoscopic surgery, few advances were aimed at improving cosmesis with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Criticisms of the single-incision laparoscopic surgery technique include a larger incision and increased incidence of wound-related complications. We present our initial experience with a novel technique aimed at performing strategic laparoscopy for improved cosmesis (SLIC) for cholecystectomy. Methods: Twenty-five patients with biliary symptoms were selected for SLIC cholecystectomy. Access to the abdomen was obtained with a 5-mm optical trocar in the left upper quadrant and a 5-mm trocar in the umbilicus. Retraction was performed by a transabdominal suture in the dome of the gallbladder and a needlescopic grasper. Age, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, body mass index, operative time, length of stay, pathology results, and short-term complications at follow-up were prospectively recorded. Results: The 25 female patients had a mean age of 34.3 years and mean body mass index of 24 kg/m2. American Society of Anesthesiologists scores ranged from 1 to 3. The mean operative time was 51.3 minutes. Pathology revealed chronic cholecystitis in all patients. All procedures were performed on an outpatient basis. The only complication was one ultrasonography-documented deep vein thrombosis. All 25 planned SLIC cholecystectomies were successfully completed. Conclusions: SLIC cholecystectomy is feasible and safe. This technique decreases the cumulative incision length, as well as the number of incisions, leading to very desirable cosmetic results in patients with a favorable body habitus and surgical history. more...

Inanimate models represent reproducible, low-cost and readily available tools for the teaching and training of laparoscopic skills., Background and Objective: The use of training models in laparoscopic surgery allows the surgical team to practice procedures in a safe environment. The aim of this study was to determine the capability of an inanimate laparoscopic appendectomy model to discriminate between different levels of surgical experience (construct validity). Methods: The performance of 3 groups with different levels of expertise in laparoscopic surgery—experts (Group A), intermediates (Group B), and novices (Group C)—was evaluated. The groups were instructed of the task to perform in the model using a video tutorial. Procedures were recorded in a digital format for later analysis using the Global Operative Assessment of Laparoscopic Skills (GOALS) score; procedure time was registered. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance test. Results: Twelve subjects were evaluated, 4 in each group, using the GOALS score and time required to finish the task. Higher scores were observed in the expert group, followed by the intermediate and novice groups, with statistically significant difference. Regarding procedure time, a significant difference was also found between the groups, with the experts having the shorter time. The proposed model is able to discriminate among individuals with different levels of expertise, indicating that the abilities that the model evaluates are relevant in the surgeon's performance. Conclusions: Construct validity for the inanimate full-task laparoscopic appendectomy training model was demonstrated. Therefore, it is a useful tool in the development and evaluation of the resident in training. more...

Cost for single-port cholecystectomy in the outpatient setting was found to be greater than the cost for micro-laparoscopic or conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy., Background and Objective: This study compares hospital costs and clinical outcomes for conventional laparoscopic, single-port, and mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy from US hospitals. Methods: Eligible patients were aged ≥18 years and undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with records in the Premier Hospital Database from 2009 through the second quarter of 2010. Patients were categorized into 3 groups—conventional laparoscopic, single port, or mini-laparoscopic—based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Current Procedural Terminology codes and hospital charge descriptions for surgical tools used. A procedure was considered mini-laparoscopic if no single-port surgery products were identified in the charge master descriptions and the patient record showed that at least 1 product measuring 5 mm was used, and the measurements of the other products identified equaled 5 mm. Summary statistics were generated for all 3 groups. Multivariable analyses were performed on hospital costs and clinical outcomes. Models were adjusted for demographics, patient severity, comorbid conditions, and hospital characteristics. Results: In the outpatient setting, for single-port surgery, hospital costs were approximately $834 more than those for mini-laparoscopic surgery and $964 more than those for conventional laparoscopic surgery (P < .0001). Adverse events were significantly higher (P < .0001) for single-port surgery compared with mini-laparoscopic surgery (95% confidence interval for odds ratio, 1.38–2.68) and single-port surgery versus conventional surgery (95% confidence interval for odds ratio, 1.37–2.35). Mini-laparoscopic surgery hospital costs were significantly (P < .0001) lower than the costs for conventional surgery by $211, and there were no significant differences in adverse events. Conclusions: These findings should inform practice patterns, treatment guidelines, and payor policy in managing cholecystectomy patients. more...

A modified Aptos needle appeared to allow an easy, simple, safe method for fascial closure of trocar sites., Background and Objectives: Trocar-site incisional hernias are the most common complications in laparoscopic surgery. Fascial closure of port sites represents a challenging issue in laparoscopic surgery. Methods: We describe a simple easy technique for fascial closure of port sites using a double-tip needle (Lasheen needle). This study included 100 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery from January 2009 through August 2011 in the General Surgery Department, Zagazig University Hospital, Zagazig, Egypt. The mean follow-up period was 2 years for any wound complications at these trocar sites. Results: The mean age of the patients was 39.5 years, and the mean time for placement of one suture was 2 minutes. No trocar-site herniation occurred with our technique during the period of follow-up. Infection developed at the trocar site in 3 patients. Conclusion: This technique is easy, simple, safe, fast, inexpensive, and effective for fascial closure of trocar sites. more...

Laparoscopy combined with transvaginal management appeared to result in less bleeding, shorter operative times, and a lower rate of complication in patients with uterine wound rupture and dense adhesions., Objective: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of laparoscopic management of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) by deep implantation. Background: A pregnancy implanting within the scar from a previous cesarean delivery is a rare condition of ectopic pregnancy. There are two different types of CSPs. Type I is caused by implantation of the amniotic sac on the scar with progression toward either the cervicoisthmic space or the uterine cavity. Type II (CSP-II) is caused by deep implantation into a previous CS defect with infiltrating growth into the uterine myometrium and bulging from the uterine serosal surface, which may result in uterine rupture and severe bleeding during the first trimester of pregnancy. Thus, timely management with an early and accurate diagnosis of CSP-II is important. However, laparoscopic management in CSP-II has not yet been evaluated. Methods: Eleven patients with CSP-II underwent conservative laparoscopic surgery or laparoscopy combined with transvaginal bilateral uterine artery ligation and resection of the scar with gestational tissue and wound repair to preserve the uterus from March 2008 to November 2011. Patients with CSP-II were diagnosed using color Doppler sonography, and the diagnosis was confirmed by laparoscopy. The operation time, the blood loss during surgery, the levels of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) before surgery, the time taken for serum β-hCG levels to return to more...

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery appears to be safe and feasible for definitive management of patients with severe endometriosis., Objectives: The primary objective was to examine the safety and feasibility of robotic-assisted laparoscopy in a cohort of women treated surgically for stage III and IV endometriosis. The secondary objective was to explore whether the stage of endometriosis affected surgical outcome. Methods: In this cohort study, 43 women with severe endometriosis were treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy with unilateral or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for stage III (n = 19) or stage IV (n = 24) disease. Results: Histopathologic evaluation confirmed endometriosis in all patients, and fibroids were also shown in 12 patients. The median actual operative time was 145 min (range, 67–325 min), and the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 20–400 mL). All but one of the procedures were completed successfully robotically. The length of hospital stay was 1 d for 95% of patients (41 of 43), and 2 patients had prolonged stays of 4 d and 5 d, respectively. One patient was readmitted for a vaginal cuff abscess; this represented the only complication identified in this series. Conclusions: Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery appears to be a reasonably safe and feasible method for the definitive surgical management of women with severe endometriosis. more...

Single-port right hemicolectomy may be safely performed in patients who are candidates for conventional laparoscopic hemicolectomy with similar efficacy, safety, and oncologic outcomes., Background: Single-port laparoscopic colectomy was first described in 2008 as a new technique for colorectal surgery.1 No available reports have stated the intermediate- or long-term outcome. We report our intermediate results for the first 20 single-port laparoscopic right hemicolectomies performed by a single laparoscopically trained surgeon at our institution. Design: Between February 2009 and September 2010, 20 consecutive patients with an indication for right hemicolectomy who were candidates for laparoscopic surgery underwent a single-port laparoscopic approach. The only exclusion was a previous midline laparotomy. The patients were followed for outcomes after a median of 27 months (range: 15 to 35). Results: The mean age was 65 years (range: 59 to 88). The mean body mass index was 28 (range: 20 to 35). Seventy-five percent of patients had significant comorbidities, with an American Society of Anesthesiologists class of III or IV. The median estimated blood loss was 25 mL (range: 25 to 250). The mean number of lymph nodes was 13 (range: 0 to 29). There was one conversion to hand-assisted laparoscopic colectomy and one to open colectomy secondary to bleeding. The mean hospital stay was 5 days (range: 3 to 7). Thirty-day postoperative complications included 1 wound infection, 1 patient with alcohol withdrawal, and 1 incidence of colitis caused by Clostridium difficile infection. At a median follow-up of 27 months, there were no local recurrences or distant metastases. One death occurred at 17 months from myocardial infarction. Two patients developed incisional hernias, with one requiring a laparoscopic hernia repair. One patient required a completion proctocolectomy for a pathological diagnosis of hyperplastic polyposis syndrome. Conclusions: Single-port laparoscopic right hemicolectomy has been safely performed in patients who are candidates for conventional laparoscopic hemicolectomy. This small series indicates that intermediate-term results are similar to conventional laparoscopic surgery in efficacy, safety, and oncological outcomes. Larger datasets are necessary to determine cost-effectiveness, differences in postoperative outcomes, and patient satisfaction. more...

Introduction: To assess the feasibility of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) in some urological surgeries. Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 40 patients (27 males and 13 females) from January 2010 to June 2011. Six procedures were done, SILS renal cyst decortication (n = 10), SILS varicocelectomy (n = 10), SILS orchiopexy (n = 10), SILS nephrectomy (n = 3), SILS pyelolithtomy (n = 6) and SILS adrenalectomy (n = 1). Results: Postoperative complications included ileus (10%) and fever (10%) in SILS renal cyst ablation. SILS varicocelectomy had postoperative sequalae as persistent varicocele (10%) and hydrocele (10%). SILS orchiopexy was also done with a success rate 100% in this series. SILS pyelolithotomy was successfully done in 5 out of 6 patients and only 1 patient was converted to conventional laparoscopy. In SILS nephrectomy 1 patient out of 3 was converted to conventional laparoscopy. Conclusion: SILS in urology has proven to be safe and feasible in the hands of experienced laparoscopic surgeons, using specially designed ports and instruments in selected patients. more...

Direct trocar insertion was found to be a fast, safe, and reliable alternative to traditional techniques for establishment of pneumoperitoneum., Background: The Veress needle (VN) technique for establishing pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery is widely used and yet is associated with slow insufflation rates and potentially life-threatening complications. Although these complications have been rarely reported, they represent a major source of morbidity and mortality from laparoscopic procedures and a major reason for conversion to open surgery. The open laparoscopy (OL) is an alternative to the VN technique, being relatively safer, even if considered cumbersome by many authors. Recently, the direct trocar insertion (DTI) technique of establishing pneumoperitoneum has been reported as an alternative to both techniques, but it is largely confined to gynecologic procedures. We report a case-series study where we evaluate the patients who underwent a DTI entry for laparoscopy during a recent 5-year period, focusing attention on feasibility, safety, and the benefits of DTI. Methods: This is a case series of 2175 different laparoscopic procedures (1456 [66.9%] scheduled cases and 719 [33%] emergencies). In 2091 (96.1%) of them (1425 [68.1%] scheduled cases and 666 [31.8%] emergencies), pneumoperitoneum was established with DTI, either in the umbilicus or in Palmer's point. Results: There were no injuries, either minor or major. Peritoneal access and the creation of a laparoscopic workplace were obtained quickly and efficiently by DTI. Conclusion: Our results suggest that DTI is a fast, safe, and reliable alternative to traditional techniques for pneumoperitoneum establishment and should be regarded as a part of the surgical armamentarium of a trained laparoscopic surgeon. more...

The authors suggest that these video games may be an inexpensive alternative to laparoscopic training simulators., Background and Objective: The increase in laparoscopic surgery has led to a growing need to train residents in this skill. Virtual reality simulators and box trainers have been used as educational tools outside of the operating room, but both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Video games have been an area of interest in the search for other modalities to train residents. Experience with the traditional single controller unit video games have been correlated with better surgical skill acquisition. In 2006, Nintendo introduced the Wii, a novel gaming modality that mimics movements in laparoscopy better than traditional games do. Our objective was to compare the Nintendo Wii and PlayStation2 for enhancing laparoscopy skills. Methods: The study included stratified randomization of 23 less experienced (12 per year) physicians, residents, and medical students to 30 min of Wii versus PlayStation2 in a university-affiliated hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Pre- and posttest bead transfer and suturing scores were obtained. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar for both video game groups. Participants assigned to Wii and PlayStation2 both demonstrated significant improvement in bead transfer. Neither Wii nor PlayStation2 participants improved in suturing scores. The Wii group improved more in bead transfer scores when compared to the PlayStation2 group (60 points vs. 40 points, respectively), but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Both Wii and PlayStation2 significantly improved laparoscopic skills in bead transfer. These video games may be inexpensive alternatives to laparoscopy training simulators. more...

The authors describe 2 steps useful to avoid iatrogenic injury during introduction of laparoscopic ancillary trocars., The problem of laparoscopic entry is currently still unsolved, and despite the various techniques adopted by the surgical community, it has not yet been determined which is the correct access in all patients. Add to this the problem of safe ancillary port introduction; all surgeons must avoid vascular and visceral damage. The 2 most common problems with second port trocars are inferior and superior epigastric artery damage, and bowel loops and adhesions. Over the years, we have developed 2 steps that are very useful to avoid iatrogenic injuries to vessels and viscera. In this brief report, we explain the following 2 simple steps, called by the authors “yellow island” port entry and second trocar “tip entry guided” by a suction cannula. In our practice of more than 3400 conventional laparoscopies, with data from patients with different characteristics, surgeons who have introduced laparoscopic surgery into their daily practice might teach these steps to young fellows and trainees. more...

This study supports the use of laparoscopic surgery for the elective removal of migrated intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) from within the peritoneal cavity., Background: Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) comprise the most popular form of reversible contraception. Uterine perforation is a rare but potentially serious complication associated with their use. We examined all reported cases of elective surgical removal of peritoneally migrated IUCDs, to compare laparoscopic and open approaches, and to identify beneficial surgical techniques. Database: MEDLINE and Embase were searched using the following medical subject heading terms: (IUCD or IUD or IUS or intrauterine device or intrauterine devices, copper or intrauterine devices, medicated) AND (migrated or displaced or foreign-body migration or intrauterine device migration) AND (peritoneal or peritoneal cavity). The Cochrane Library was searched using the terms IUCD, IUD, IUS, and intrauterine device. Additional studies were identified by manually searching the reference lists of the studies found through database search. Studies were included irrespective of language or publication type. Discussion: We identified 129 cases, reported in 30 studies. In the majority of cases (93.0% [120/129]), surgery was attempted laparoscopically; however 22.5% (27/120) of surgeries were converted to open operations, giving an overall rate of open surgery of 27.9% (36/129). This systematic review supports the use of laparoscopic surgery for elective removal of migrated IUCDs from the peritoneal cavity. With complications rarely reported, it is also likely the procedure could be undertaken in an outpatient setting. The use of intraoperative adjuncts (ie, cystoscopy) and the rate of conversion to open surgery are influenced by the site of the IUCD. Therefore, accurate preoperative localization of the device is advised. more...

There is a significant learning curve in acquiring singleincision laparoscopic appendectomy skills in pediatric patients., Introduction: Laparoscopic appendectomy is accepted as the gold standard technique for the treatment of acute appendicitis. Recently single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) was tried in the pediatric population and was shown to be both feasible and safe. We describe our early experience in teaching the SILS procedure for appendicitis in a large community hospital center surgical residency program. Methods: SILS appendectomy was performed in 40 consecutive patients with acute appendicitis who were admitted by a single surgeon from May 2011 to August 2011. All patients over the age of 4 y presenting with noncomplicated and complicated appendicitis (perforated) were offered SILS appendectomy. Execution of the technical aspects of 20 SILS operations done by 3 PGY III residents was evaluated. Results: The average age of the patient was 11.1 y (range, 7 to 15). SILS was performed successfully in 19 out of 20 patients. Nineteen patients underwent emergent or urgent appendectomy, while 1 patient underwent an interval procedure. Nine patients were found to have perforated appendicitis, while the other 11 had noncomplicated acute appendicitis. One patient was converted to conventional 3-port laparoscopy due to difficulties during the procedure. The mean operative time was 73 min (range, 47 to 112). A significant learning curve to successfully execute the critical steps of the SILS procedure was noted in all residents evaluated. Conclusion: SILS technology appears promising for the treatment of acute appendicitis. However, its successful incorporation into surgical training programs will depend on the development of innovative simulation strategies. more...

Laparoscopic excision of local recurrent renal cell carcinoma appears to be a feasible technique in wellselected patients with low-volume mass not involving adjacent organs., Background and Objective: To report a single center's experience with laparoscopic excision of local recurrence of renal cell carcinoma. Methods: Between January and August 2011, 5 patients who underwent laparoscopic excision of local recurrence were identified from the institutional laparoscopic surgery database. Results: Four radical nephrectomies and 1 partial nephrectomy were performed for primary tumors. The mean ages of the patients were 57.4 y (range, 48 to 68) and 62.8 y (range, 53 to 71) at the time of primary surgery and laparoscopic recurrence excision, respectively. The average size of the primary tumor was 7.2cm (range, 4.5 to 11). The mean size of local recurrence was 3.46cm (range, 2.8 to 4.5). The original tumor T stages were T1b, T2b, and T4 in 3, 1, and 1 cases, respectively. The mean time to diagnosis of recurrence was 51.2 mo (range, 15 to 136). The pathology of one patient who had previously received targeted therapy with sunitinib, was necrosis, unlike the other 4 pathologies which revealed renal cell carcinoma. The mean operative time, estimated blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 86 min (range, 70 to 100), 100 mL (range, 20 to 300), and 4 d (range, 2 to 8), respectively. One pleural injury did not need open conversion and was repaired laparoscopically. At a mean follow-up of 8.4 mo, the cancer-specific and disease-free survival rates were 100% and 60%, respectively. Conclusion: Laparoscopic excision of local recurrence of RCC is a feasible technique in well-selected patients with low-volume mass not involving the adjacent organs. more...

This study suggests that training improves laparoscopic suturing skills in experienced as well as inexperienced laparoscopic surgeons., Background: Laparoscopic suturing is a difficult skill to master but can be acquired with extensive training outside the operating room. This study was done with the primary aim of assessing whether prior exposure to laparoscopic surgery helped trainees in acquiring laparoscopic suturing skills more quickly than trainees with no prior exposure to laparoscopic surgery. Materials and Methods: Twenty laparoscopy-exposed and 20 laparoscopy-naïve surgeons performed 5 laparoscopic gastrojejunostomies each on a phantom porcine model. The performance was evaluated for operation time, overall anastomotic score (calculated by adding scores of anastomotic leak, size of the anastomosis, suture placement, and mucosal approximation), and the level of difficulty. The performance at the beginning of training (baseline) was compared to the performance at the end of training. Results: All participants showed statistically significant improvement in operation time, overall anastomotic score, and difficulty level. Laparoscopy-exposed surgeons had a significantly better operation time than laparoscopy-naïve surgeons at the beginning of training; however, the difference became insignificant by the end of training. The difference in overall anastomotic score was not significant between laparoscopy-exposed and naïve-surgeons. Laparoscopy-exposed surgeons showed significant improvements in anastomotic leak rate and size of the anastomosis, whereas laparoscopy naïve surgeons showed improvements in all the parameters, although these were not significant statistically. Conclusion: Training improves the laparoscopic suturing skills of laparoscopy-exposed as well as laparoscopy-naïve surgeons. Prior experience in laparoscopic surgery does not seem to influence the acquisition of laparoscopic suturing skills as laparoscopic-naïve surgeons manage to catch up with the skills of the laparoscopy-exposed surgeons. more...

Ureteral endometriosis, albeit rare, can be complicated by potential loss of renal function. A laparoscopic approach to treatment is based on the extent of the disease and its localization., Background: Ureteral endometriosis is a serious localization of disease burden that can lead to urinary tract obstruction, with subsequent hydroureter, hydronephrosis, and potential kidney loss. Diagnosis is elusive and relies heavily on clinical suspicion as ureteral endometriosis can occur with both minimal and extensive disease. Surgical technique to treatment varies, but the goal is to salvage renal function and decrease disease burden. Case Descriptions: We describe 3 cases in which there was documentation of renal atrophy and function loss with subsequent workup and surgical intervention. Results: The cases illustrate varying surgical approaches tailored to localization of ureteral endometriosis. All cases were carried out laparoscopically. Conclusion: Ureteral endometriosis, albeit rare, can be complicated by potential loss of renal function. Clinical suspicion and preoperative assessment may help with diagnosis and allows for a multidisciplinary preconsultation. Laparoscopic surgical approach is based on extent of disease and localization and can be carried out successfully in the hands of a highly experienced laparoscopic surgeon. more...

This study concludes that a modified single-incision procedure for cholecystectomy using 2 regular ports inserted through the umbilicus can be performed at lower cost than a conventional 4-port procedure., Background and Objectives: Specially designed surgical instruments have been developed for single-incision laparoscopic surgery, but high instrument costs may impede the implementation of these procedures. The aim of this study was to compare the cost of operative implements used for elective cholecystectomy performed as conventional laparoscopic 4-port cholecystectomy or as single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Two consecutive series of patients undergoing single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy were assessed: (1) single-incision cholecystectomy using a commercially available multichannel port (n=80) and (2) a modified single-incision cholecystectomy using 2 regular trocars inserted through the umbilicus (n=20) with transabdominal sutures for gallbladder mobilization (puppeteering technique). Patients who underwent conventional 4-port cholecystectomy during the same time period (n=100) were selected as controls. Results: The instrumental cost of the single-incision cholecystectomy using a commercial port was significantly higher (median, $1123) than the cost for conventional 4-port (median $441, P < .0005) and modified single-incision cholecystectomy (median $342, P < .0005). The cost of the modified single-incision procedure was significantly lower than that for the 4-port cholecystectomy (P < .0005). Conclusion: The modified single-incision procedure using 2 regular ports inserted through the umbilicus can be performed at lower cost than conventional 4-port cholecystectomy. more...

A camera-less peritoneal entry technique appears to be a simple, safe, and effective method for gaining peritoneal access for laparoscopic abdominal surgical procedures., Background and Objectives: Despite significant advances in laparoscopic instrumentation and techniques, injury to intraabdominal structures remains a potentially serious complication of peritoneal access. Consensus on the best method to obtain peritoneal access is lacking. A safe technique that does not rely on direct visualization of the abdominal layers could shorten the learning curve for surgeons and potentially be adopted by other physicians for a variety of nonsurgical indications for peritoneal entry. Methods: A prospective series of 99 consecutive patients who underwent upper-abdominal laparoscopic surgery performed by a single surgeon between January 2009 and June 2010 was reviewed. The method used to obtain peritoneal access was the fluid-based peritoneal entry indication technique (C-PET) with the EndoTIP trocar. Results: Successful abdominal entry using C-PET was achieved in 90 (90.9%) of the patients; no trocar-related injuries or other injuries associated with peritoneal access occurred. The mean time from incision to confirmed peritoneal access was 21.4 s (range, 12 to 65). Of the 9 cases in which C-PET did not successfully gain entry, 6 occurred during the first 20 surgeries and only 3 in the final 79. Conclusions: C-PET is simple, safe, timely, and effective for gaining peritoneal access during laparoscopic abdominal surgeries. In this series, C-PET produced no complications and proved effective across a wide variety of patients, including the obese and those who had had previous surgery. Furthermore, C-PET does not require visual recognition of anatomic layers and potentially could easily be taught to nonsurgeon physicians who perform peritoneal access. more...

In the last decades, laparoscopic surgery has become the gold standard in patients with colorectal cancer. To overcome the drawback of reduced tactile feedback, real-time tissue classification could be of great benefit. In this ex vivo study, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to distinguish tumor tissue from healthy surrounding tissue. A sample of fat, healthy colorectal wall, and tumor tissue was collected per patient and imaged using two hyperspectral cameras, covering the wavelength range from 400 to 1700 nm. The data were randomly divided into a training (75%) and test (25%) set. After feature reduction, a quadratic classifier and support vector machine were used to distinguish the three tissue types. Tissue samples of 32 patients were imaged using both hyperspectral cameras. The accuracy to distinguish the three tissue types using both hyperspectral cameras was 0.88 (STD=0.13) on the test dataset. When the accuracy was determined per patient, a mean accuracy of 0.93 (STD=0.12) was obtained on the test dataset. This study shows the potential of using HSI in colorectal cancer surgery for fast tissue classification, which could improve clinical outcome. Future research should be focused on imaging entire colon/rectum specimen and the translation of the technique to an intraoperative setting. more...

Background/objectives It has been shown that major gynecologic laparoscopy is safe in hospital ambulatory settings, but there is little data to suggest the same in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of advanced gynecologic laparoscopic surgery using a fast-track model in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers and discusses our institution protocols. Methods Retrospective, multicenter review was conducted of major gynecologic surgeries from August 1st 2010 to September 30th 2011 in 3 surgical centers with one primary surgeon. All patients were treated for symptomatic uterine leiomyomas and/or endometriosis. Primary outcome measures were unplanned admissions and discharge within 23 hours. Results One hundred and thirty-four patients underwent major laparoscopic gynecologic surgery with a total of 160 procedures: 77 stage IV endometriosis treatment including 7 disk excisions of endometriosis from the large bowel, 3 ureteroneocystostomies and 1 partial bladder resection, 38 myomectomies, and 34 hysterectomies including 12 modified radical hysterectomies. The overall unplanned admission rate was 4.5%. One hundred and thirty-one patients (97.7%) were discharged within 24 hours after surgery. Three patients (2.2%) were transferred to the hospital postoperatively: 1 patient for observation of postoperative anemia and 2 patients for postoperative fever. Three patients (2.2%) were admitted to the hospital after discharge: 1 patient for postoperative ileus, 1 patient for postoperative fever, and 1 patient with septic pelvic thrombophlebitis. These postoperative issues all resolved without complication, and all patients had an uneventful follow-up. Conclusions With appropriate resources and an experienced surgeon, advanced laparoscopic surgery can be safely performed in a fast-track ambulatory surgery center with a high rate of discharge within 23 hours and low unplanned readmission rate. more...

The rate of port site metastasis in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancy is similar to the rate of port site metastasis for traditional laparoscopic surgery., Background and Objectives: Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used for the management of patients with gynecologic malignancies. The rate of port-site metastases in patients undergoing these procedures is unknown. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospective database. A total of 220 women underwent robotic-assisted surgery from 2007 through 2011. Malignancy was detected in 145 cases, and 142 met the inclusion criteria with histologically proven cancer and robotically completed surgery. All women who underwent surgical treatment for their malignancies were followed up at the study site for oncology treatments. Results: There were 710 potential port sites for metastasis. We found that 2 of 142 patients each had a single port-site metastasis, for an overall rate of 1.41%, or 0.28% per trocar site. Recurrent disease was not isolated in the two patients found to have port-site metastases because both had concurrent sites of pelvic recurrence. Conclusion: The rate of port-site metastases in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancies is similar to the published rate in the literature for traditional laparoscopic oncology. more...