Study on the feasibility and safety of a novel single-port robotic surgical system in zero ischemic partial nephrectomy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of a novel single-port robotic surgical system with flexible 3D endoscope and deformable surgical instruments in zero ischemic partial nephrectomy.Methods:From May 2021 to October 2021, a prospective study on patients with renal tumor who plan to receive zero ischemic partial nephrectomy was conducted. Inclusion criteria included over 18 years old, body index between 18.5 to 30.0 kg/m2, American Society of Anesthesiologists Score ranged from 1 to 3 points, cooperation with the follow-up and related examinations, voluntary in participating the clinical trial and signing the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included patients with other co-existed malignant tumors or a medical history of other malignant tumors, the patients who have received the same urological surgery in the past, the patients who underwent or plan to undergo other major operations 3 months before or after the surgery, the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis or severe systemic diseases, the patients to be considered not suitable to enroll in by the researchers. A novel single-port robotic surgical system was used to perform the surgery. The system consiststed of a remote control console, a surgical equipment cart, a four-arm operation cart and deformable robotic instruments which were reusable. The two-section deformable robotic instruments were able to bend in four directions and carried different surgical instruments such as unipolar scissors, bipolar grasping forceps and needle holders. The deformable robotic instruments entered the body through a special trocar with single hole and multi-channel, and then unfolded in a triangle. By bending instruments, surgeons could perform single-port robotic surgery without the trouble of "chopstick effect" or "reverse direction" . Four cases of single-port partial nephrectomy were carried out. Under general anesthesia, the patients were taken the lateral recumbent position, with elevated waist and lowered head and feet. A 3-4 cm incision was taken layer by layer along the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis at the umbilicus level. A special 2.5 cm robotic trocar was set into the cavity, and a high-definition 3D laparoscopic lens and a snake shaped mechanical arm were then put into the abdominal cavity through the trocar. All operations were performed by transperitoneal approach with an auxiliary port through the same or a different skin incision if necessary. Tumor resection and renal reconstruction were performed by the way of zero ischemia. The perioperative parameters such as tumor size, operation time, intraoperative bleeding and postoperative complications were analyzed.Results:Four patients were involved, including 2 males and 2 females, with 2 of them having a history of hypertension. The ECOG scores were all 0, and KPS score was 100 in 3 cases and 90 in 1 case. Preoperative mean serum creatinine was (76.8±18.8)μmol/L (range 70-104 μmol/L). The tumors were located on the left in 3 cases and on the right in 1 case. The diameter of the tumor ranged from 1.1 to 2.8 cm, with the TNM classification of T 1a. The R. E.N.A.L. scores were 4a, 7p, 6p and 4P respectively. The first operation was performed by pure single-port surgery, and the other 3 cases were performed with the help of an auxiliary port to ensure the safety .The operation time ranged from 155 min to 210 min, and the intraoperative bleeding ranged from 20 ml to 170 ml. Postoperative pathology showed 2 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma with negative margin and 2 cases of angiomyolipoma. No severe complications, such as bleeding or urinary leakage, were observed during the perioperative period, and the change of serum creatinine was insignificant before discharge and before operation( P=0.24). Conclusions:A robotic single-port partial nephrectomy can be successfully carried out by using this novel single-port robotic surgical system with flexible 3D endoscope and deformable surgical instruments.

Current Status of Single-port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Traditionally, many innovations in digestive surgery were first evaluated using cholecystectomies in humans as an in vivo model. The large number of patients in good condition, the non-reconstructive nature of such an intervention, and the availability of a standardized operative technique for comparison are the main characteristics predisposing gallbladder surgery for assessment of new technologies. The first case of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) in the world was reported in 1997 by Navarra and the first case in Korea was reported in 2009. Since then, the use of SPLC has grown rapidly and several randomized controlled trials found that it is safe and feasible compared with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the true advantage of SPLC over conventional surgery remains controversial.

Current Status of Single-port Colectomy in Korea

Single-port surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that uses a single incision for laparoscopic surgery instead of a conventional multiport. The procedure was introduced in the late 1990s after the development of single-ports and special instruments designed for single-port surgery. At first, simple procedures, such as appendectomy and cholecystectomy, were attempted. A single-port colectomy was first reported in 2008 and in Korea in 2010. Since then, many surgeons have performed single-port colectomy and reported it to be safe and compatible with conventional laparoscopic colectomy. Nowadays, a multicenter prospective randomized trial comparing single-port with conventional laparoscopic colectomy is ongoing in Korea. Many modifications from a single-port colectomy have also been tried, such as transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) and transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME). Now, it is the time to start research to determine the proper indications for these new procedures.

Review of 100 cases of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SPLC) is a new advanced technique in laparoscopic surgery. Many laparoscopic surgeons seek to gain skill in this new technique. However, little data has been accumulated and published formally yet. This article reports the achievement of 100 cases of SPLC with the hopes it will encourage laparoscopic surgery centers in the early adoption of SPLC. METHODS: A retrospective review of 100 prospectively selected cases of SPLC was carried out. All patients had received elective SPLC by a single surgeon in our center from May 2009 to December 2010. Our review suggests patients' character, perioperative data and postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Forty-two men and 58 women with an average age of 45.8 years had received SPLC. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.85 kg/m2. The mean operating time took 76.75 minutes. However, operating time was decreased according to the increase of experience of SPLC cases. Twenty-one cases were converted to multi-port surgery. BMI, age, previous low abdominal surgical history did not seem to affect conversion to multi-port surgery. No cases were converted to open surgery. Mean duration of hospital stay was 2.18 days. Six patients had experienced complications from which they had recovered after conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: SPLC is a safe and practicable technique. The operating time is moderate and can be reduced with the surgeon's experience. At first, strict criteria was indicated for SPLC, however, with surgical experience, the criteria and area of SPLC can be broadened. SPLC is occupying a greater domain of conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

New Surgical Approach for Gastric Bezoar: "Hybrid Access Surgery" Combined Intragastric and Single Port Surgery

Regarding the removal of a gastric bezoar, laparoscopic surgery was performed and it was shown that the laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible. However, the laparoscopic method has the risk of intraabdominal contamination, when the gastric bezoar is retrieved from the gastric lumen in the peritoneal cavity. We developed and applied a new procedure for the removal of the gastric bezoar using one surgical glove and two wound retractors as a fashion of intragastric single port surgery. Herein we present this new minimal invasive procedure, so named "hybrid access surgery" which involves the use of existing devices and overcomes the weakness of laparoscopic removal of the gastric bezoar. Our new procedure, combining the concept of intragastric and single port access, is acceptable and feasible to retrieve the gastric bezoar. In the future, this procedure may be one of the alternative procedures for retrieving gastric bezoar even when it is incarcerated in the pylorus.