title: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy vs. conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We analyzed different morbidity parameters between single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pubmed, Ovid, Embase, SCI database, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched. The primary endpoints analyzed were cosmetic result and the postoperative pain (at 6 and 24 h) and the secondary endpoints were operating time, hospital stay, incidence of overall postoperative complications, wound-related complications, and port-site hernia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred fifty-nine patients (SILC-349, CLC-310) were analyzed from nine randomized controlled trials. The objective postoperative pain scores at 6 and 24 h and the hospital stay were similar in both groups. The total postoperative complications, wound-related problems, and port-site hernia formation, though higher in SILC, were also comparable in both groups. SILC had significantly favorable cosmetic scoring compared to CLC [weighted mean difference = 1.0, p = 0.0001]. The operating time was significantly longer in SILC [weighted mean difference = 15.63, p = 0.0001].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not confer any benefit in postoperative pain (6 and 24 h) and hospital stay as compared to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy while having significantly better cosmetic results at the same time. Postoperative complications, though higher in SILC, were statistically similar in both the groups.
authors.affiliation: MM Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Mullana, Haryana, India. drgargpankaj@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Jai Deep
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Thakur
authors.forename: Mahak
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.forename: Geetha R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D004954:Esthetics; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061646:Operative Time; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic