title: Transumbilical single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TUSPLA): scarless intracorporeal appendectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic appendectomy is generally performed with the three-port system. In this study, we performed a unique single-port laparoscopic appendectomy, which we refer to as the transumbilical single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (TUSPLA).
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 19, 2008, 33 cases of TUSPLA were performed. A surgical glove was used as the "single-port" with an extra-small wound retractor, which was set up through a small umbilical incision. The surgical glove attached with one trocar and two pipes were then fixed to the outer ring of the wound retractor, which served as a single port with three working channels. Using this single-port system, TUSPLA was performed. The overall procedure was similar to that used for the three-port laparoscopic appendectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TUSPLA was attempted in 33 patients (11 males and 22 females), with an average age of 31.2 years (range, 14-73). Average patient body mass index was 22.8 kg/m2 (range, 16.8-35.8). TUSPLA was successfully completed in 31 patients. In 2 cases, the operation was converted to the conventional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy due to a gangrenous change at the base of the appendix in 1 case and the need for drainage in another. Mean operation time was 40.8 minutes (range, 15-90), and mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.5 days (range, 1-11). Postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases; 2 cases were of localized pericecal abscess and 1 case was of omphalitis, and all were treated conservatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TUSPLA is a safe, effective technique that allows nearly scarless abdominal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Incheon St. Mary Hospital College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Hyung Lan
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Jo
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keun Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Se Jeong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Seung Man
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000601:surgery*