title: Laparoscopic surgery in situs inversus: a literature review and a report of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis in situs inversus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Situs inversus (SI) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital defect in which the position of abdominal and/or thoracic organs is a "mirror image" of the normal one, in the sagittal plain. In 25% of these cases, SI is part of the Kartagener syndrome, together with bronchiectasis and chronic sinusitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a patient with Kartagener syndrome and complete SI that was laparoscopically operated on for diverticulitis. We also review the published English information available on this rare condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A review of the literature revealed another single case of laparoscopic sigmoidectomy and 27 cases of other laparoscopic interventions in the presence of SI. Those laparoscopic procedures included basic procedures such as explorations and cholecystectomies, as well as advanced procedures such as gastrectomy and gastric bypass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laparoscopic approach is feasible in cases of SI, although technically more complicated because of the different position of the organs and the different laparoscopic view of the anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Cirurgia, Hospital de Sant Pau, P Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kobus
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Targarona
authors.forename: Galit Even
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Bendahan
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balagué
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vela
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garriga
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003082:Colectomy; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007619:Kartagener Syndrome; D010535:Laparoscopy; D012810:Sigmoid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed