title: Single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) is a variation in which trocar scars are hidden in the umbilicus. We sought to determine whether SILS cholecystectomy is a safe alternative to a conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed our series of 205 SIL cholecystectomies (SILC) performed between May 2008-June 2010. The first 50 cases were done by initially insufflating the abdomen with a veress needle through the umbilicus and then placing 3, 5 mm ports in the umbilicus. The remaining cases were performed using a cut down approach at the umbilicus, followed by placement of a three-trocar SILS port under direct vision.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and five patients (M:F = 48:157) underwent SILC during the study period. Median age was 45 (range = 21-62). Mean BMI range was 35 (range = 21-44). Mean operative time was 60 min (range = 40-120 min) and a follow up period that ranges from 1 to 21 months. Patient pathologies included: Chronic cholecystitis (74%), Acute cholecystitis (17%), Choledocholithiasis (6.8%), Gallstone pancreatitis (2%) and gallbladder polyp (0.5%). An additional port was placed in the umbilicus in 3% of cases. No cases were converted to open. Complications occurred in 4% of cases including: 3 patients with retained stones, 2 patients with post-op wound infection, 2 patients with incisional hernias in the umbilical region and 1patient with a veress injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SIL cholecystectomy can be done safely. It offers a better cosmetic result, which may lead to greater patient satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vemulapalli
authors.forename: Emmanuel Atta
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Agaba
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Camacho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome