title: Use of the SAND balloon catheter in single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SILS for acute cholecystitis is technically challenging because of the difficulties in obtaining optical surgical field.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-cm incision was made through the umbilicus, a single port and trocars were introduced, and the abdomen was then insufflated. A 5-mm SAND balloon punctured the abdominal wall and then the gallbladder wall. The distal and proximal balloons were inflated to prevent bile leakage, and the bile was aspirated. The collapsed gallbladder was then retracted cephalad, the critical structures were exposed, and the cystic artery and duct were divided. The gallbladder was dissected and removed through the umbilicus, and the abdomen was closed. We performed this procedure in three cases with acute cholecystitis. Operative times were 95, 133 and 244 min, blood loss was 5, 10 and 43 mL, and postoperative hospital stay was 2, 2 and 3 days, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The single-incision laparoscopic approach with the SAND balloon is a feasible technique for acute cholecystitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan. tikesurg@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikegami
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirabe
authors.forename: Tomoharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizumi
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayashima
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D057785:Catheters; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome