Adoption of Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Small-Volume Hospitals: Initial Experiences of 51 Consecutive Procedures

Background and Aims: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) via three or four ports has been the standard operation for gallstone disease. Recently, the development of multichannel port devices has allowed LCs to be performed through a single fascial incision in the umbilicus. Here, we report our experiences of the adoption of the single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) in two small-volume community hospitals.Material and Methods: From January until July 2010, 51 consecutive patients (41 females and 10 males, the mean age 44 (21–75) years, BMI 26 (18–35)) underwent elective SILC for symptomatic gallstone disease in Salo (n = 29) and Loimaa (n = 22) hospitals.Results: Of the 51 operations, 42 (82%) were accomplished without additional troacars. Seven (14%) procedures were converted to multiple-port technique and two (4%) to open cholecystectomy. In 25 (49%) operations, transabdominal retraction sutures through the gallbladder were used to maintain a good view of the triangle of Calot. The mean operative time was 74 (31–155) min. No major intraoperative complications occurred. The mean hospital stay was 0.6 (0–3) days. During a mean follow up of 4 (1–7) months, five (10%) patients had wound infection, and one (2%) had hematoma and prolonged pain in the insertion site of the retraction suture. One (2%) patient was reoperated for continuous pain in umbilical wound without findings at operation but with good results. One (2%) patient had subphrenic abscess seven months postoperatively.Conclusions: Our initial experiences indicate that SILC can be adopted without major complications in small-volume hospitals but the rate of wound infections seems to increase with the introduction of SILC.