title: The early outcome of single-incision versus multi-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is a newly developed method of performing cholecystectomy and has been increasingly used. The aim of this study is to see if SILC has any advantages over conventional (three-port) laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 52 patients who underwent SILC (group A) during the period from May 2011 to March 2013 were compared with 62 patients who underwent CLC (group B) at two centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Iran. Data were gathered on operation time, pre- and postoperative complications, patients' postoperative pain, pain reliever use, duration of hospital stay, and return to work, and these data were compared using SPSS software version 16.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 38.01 ± 13.24 in group A and 44.82 ± 15.11 in group B. Mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.97 ± 4.78 and 26.22 ± 4.67 in groups A and B, respectively. The mean operation time was 76.4 ± 29.0 min in group A and 72.9 ± 24.1 min in group B (P = 0.496). Preoperative complications were 3.8% in group A and 0 in group B (P = 0.206). Postoperative complications were 17.3% in group A and 11.3% in group B (P = 0.423). The mean for early postoperative pain revealed no significant difference (P = 0.814), but the mean pain on discharge was significantly higher in group A patients (P = 0.034). Regarding the mean admission time and return to normal activity, we found no significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SILC does not have any special advantages over CLC with regard to surgical outcomes, but it can be a safe alternative to CLC, especially in patients concerned about cosmoses.
authors.affiliation: Professor of General Surgery, Fellowship of Colorectal Surgery, Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Vahid
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Zhabiz
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Solhjou
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Saeedeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pourahmad
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Salar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimikazerooni
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Al-Karama Teaching Hospital Medical College, Wasit University, Wasit, Iraq.
authors.forename: Khairallah Muzhir
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Gabash
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, Colorectal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagherpourjahromi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Research Center for Health Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaianzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Fellowship of Colorectal Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Faranak
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bahrami
keywords: Iran; laparoscopic cholecystectomy; minimal invasive surgery