title: The umbilicus in laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examines the factors related to infection and incisional herniation after laparoscopy at the umbilicus, as compared with those at remote sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a prospective database of 561 cholecystectomies, 190 inguinal hernia repairs, 71 Nissen fundoplications, and 51 ventral hernia repairs, 873 consecutive Hasson cannula sites, 748 umbilicus sites, and 125 remote sites were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The wound infection rate was found to be 6%: 7% at the umbilicus (9% after cholecystectomy and 2% after other operations [p < 0.05]) and 0% at remote sites (p < 0.05). Excluding cholecystectomy, the umbilical infection rate was 2%, similar to that at remote sites. The postoperative ventral hernia rate was at 0.8%, the same at the umbilicus as elsewhere. The rate was similar for gallbladder and nongallbladder operations and correlated with the postoperative wound infection rate, but not with the preexisting fascial defect rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wound infection at the umbilicus is similar to that at other sites, except after cholecystectomy. Postoperative ventral hernia at the umbilicus is similar to that at other sites and not related to preexisting fascial defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Scarborough Hospital, Grace Division, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. avoitk@healthwest.nf.ca
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Voitk
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000009:adverse effects; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000601:surgery*