title: A comparison between single-incision and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is becoming a more widely accepted surgical approach. However, the feasibility and safety of single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) are yet to be established. The present study compared outcomes following the use of SILC or conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC) on patients with gallbladder disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved 190 symptomatic gallbladder disease patients treated between March 2009 and February 2011. Ninety-six patients underwent SILC, and 94 patients underwent CLC. Clinical and surgical outcomes were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SILC and CLC groups were similar in terms of age, gender ratio, body mass index, and diagnoses. The two groups were also found to be similar in terms of postoperative clinical course and complications. The SILC group had a longer operation time, less postoperative pain, and a shorter hospital stay than the CLC group (P<.05 for all variables).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SILC using the OCTO port system (Darim Corp., Korea) was as safe and feasible as CLC. Additionally, SILC is less invasive and more comfortable for patients than CLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Beom Su
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kab Choong
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Youn Baik
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Choi
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; D016896:Treatment Outcome