title: [Single incision transumbilical laparoscopic appendectomy: initial experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Appendicitis is the most common abdominal emergency. The treatment is surgical and single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) involves performing laparoscopic surgery through a single transumbilical point, in an attempt to improve the results of laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 73 patients with suspected acute appendicitis were operated on using the SILS technique between June 2009 and August 2010. All patients were operated on by the same surgical team, and the navel was the only point of entrance. Post-surgical pain was assessed using a numerical scale at the time of discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients required conversion to conventional laparoscopy. The mean surgical time was 40±14 (16-80) minutes. There were no complications during or after the surgery. The mean post-surgical pain score was 3±1 (1-7) and the mean hospital stay was 18±7 (9-42) hours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SILS is a safe and effective technique for appendicitis. In the future, the most common surgical procedures could be performed through the navel. This would be by surgeons, highly experienced in advance laparoscopic surgery in order to introduce this new technique safely without increasing morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, España. doloresfrutos@yahoo.es
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Frutos
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abrisqueta
authors.forename: Juan Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Luján
authors.forename: Arancha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Quiteria
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Pascual
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parrilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014472:Umbilicus; D055815:Young Adult