title: Culdolaparoscopic cholecystectomy during vaginal hysterectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exploration of the abdominal cavity is routinely performed during abdominal and laparoscopic hysterectomies. The visualization of the abdomen during vaginal hysterectomy, however, is not usually done. During a vaginal hysterectomy, after the uterus is removed, an opening is present in the cul-de-sac, which offers a unique opportunity for the performance of not only exploratory but also concomitant surgeries, such as a cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Culdolaparascopy is a culdoscopy assisted laparoscopic technique that utilizes a 12-mm trocar in the vagina as a multifunctional port in conjunction with laparoscopy and minilaparoscopy. A cholecystectomy was performed utilizing the vaginal trocar as an insufflation, visual, and extracting port during a vaginal hysterectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Culdolaparoscopy, when performed during vaginal hysterectomy, can be used for exploration and operation in the abdominal cavity. This case report illustrates the feasibility of a cholecystectomy performed using this surgical concept.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology, The Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens, Astoria, New York, USA. lasergyn@aol.com
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Tsin
authors.forename: Rodrigo J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sequeria
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannikas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D003464:Culdoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal