title: Micro-laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an alternative to single-port surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent advances in minimally invasive surgery aimed at diminishing incision size have led to the development of single-port surgery (SPS). SPS has an increased level of complexity and requires a higher level of surgical skill compared to traditional laparoscopy. We explored micro-laparoscopy as an alternative to routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is a retrospective review of consecutive elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by a single surgeon at a community teaching hospital over 24 months. All surgeries were performed using a 5-mm trocar for the umbilical port and 3-mm trocars for other ports in standard configuration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine cholecystectomies were performed by micro-laparoscopy during the 24-month period. Three cases required upgrade in trocar size for technical reasons, resulting in a completion rate of 96%. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in 70 cases (89%). There were no conversions to open surgery. There were no intra- or postoperative complications, and all patients were discharged on the day of surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Micro-laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible, and represents an alternative to other minimally invasive techniques. Future developments in surgical technology will allow the use of even smaller instruments, diminishing the surgical "footprint" even further and contributing to better cosmesis and decreased postoperative pain in cholecystectomy patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Danbury Hospital, 24 Hospital Avenue, Danbury, CT 06810, USA. Denise.McCormack@danhosp.org
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCormack
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saldinger
authors.forename: Andrei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cocieru
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: House
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zuccala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008904:Miniaturization; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult