title: Needlescopic surgery. A logical evolution from conventional laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety and feasibility of needlescopic surgery and to compare the short-term outcomes relative to conventional laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Needlescopic surgery patients were compared to matched cohorts of conventional laparoscopic surgery patients from the same prospective database for a variety of selected procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 101 needlescopic procedures were analyzed (30 cholecystectomy, 28 Nissen fundoplication, 12 bilateral sympathectomy, 10 splenectomy, 10 Heller myotomy, three adrenalectomy, two colon resection, two splenic cyst excision, four other). There was no significant difference between the needlescopic and conventional laparoscopic groups in conversion rates, morbidity, or mortality. A higher proportion of patients were in hospital
authors.affiliation: The University of Toronto Centre for Minimally Invasive Surgery, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Wellesley Central Site, 160 Wellesley St. E., Jones Bldg. # 217, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4Y 1J3.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mamazza
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Schlachta
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Seshadri
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Poulin
mesh_terms: D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000379:methods