title: Single-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gall Bladder Polyps.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) was introduced to improve patients' postoperative quality of life and cosmesis over the conventional approach (CLC). The purpose of this case-control study was to compare the outcome of SPLC with that of CLC in a specific disease: gall bladder (GB) polyps.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible for the study were all patients with GB polyps who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between June 1, 2009, and June 30, 2011. The 112 patients studied (56 each for SPLC and CLC) were matched by using a propensity score that included gender, age, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, history of previous abdominal operation, and pathology outcome. To avoid selection bias caused by the surgeon's choice (often dependent on the degree of inflammation) and to investigate the efficacy of SPLC for a single disease, GB polyps, we excluded patients with acute or chronic cholecystitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Characteristics of the patients matched by a propensity score between SPLC and CLC showed no significant difference. Incidentally detected malignancy was in postoperative pathology in cases in both groups. Although operative time was shorter for SPLC, there was no significant difference in time between the 2 groups. There were 3 open conversions in the CLC group, and an additional port was used in the SPLC group. There was no difference between the groups in hospital stay and postoperative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the management of GB polyps, the operative results of SPLC are comparable to those of CLC. We conclude that SPLC is as safe as CLC and has the potential for greater cosmetic satisfaction for patients than CLC. Further trials for objective appraisal of cosmetic outcomes are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joong Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min Chan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Jo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ghap Joong
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D011127:Polyps / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Case-control study; Gallbladder polyp; Single-port laparoscopy