Solo Single-Incision Laparoscopic Appendectomy versus Conventional Single-Incision Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Retrospective, Single Center Study

PURPOSE: Single incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) attempts to advance laparoscopic appendectomy with the aim of quicker recovery, less pain, a smaller scar, and better patient satisfaction, and it might offer better outcomes than conventional laparoscopic appendectomy. However, conventional SILA (C-SILA) is not widely practiced. C-SILA is associated with several ergonomic challenges when compared with standard multiport laparoscopy owing to the handling of straight instruments in parallel with a camera. The aim of this retrospective study was to review and compare the outcomes of SILA performed by residents in solo approach and a conventional non-solo approach in order to determine whether S-SILA can be performed effectively by residents. METHODS: Between March 2016 and February 2018, at SNUBH, 87 patients underwent SILA performed by residents, and of these patients, 36 underwent S-SILA and 51 underwent C-SILA. RESULTS: Patient characteristics and severities of appendicitis were different between the S-SILA and C-SILA groups. Although cases were more complicated in the S-SILA group, the surgical outcomes were similar between the S-SILA and C-SILA groups. These findings suggest that S-SILA can be a reasonable alternative to C-SILA for surgeons who can competently perform SILA. CONCLUSION: The surgical outcomes were similar between S-SILA and C-SILA. Moreover, S-SILA could reduce the number of required personnel, resulting in a reduction in healthcare cost. S-SILA can be considered a reasonable alternative to C-SILA for surgeons who can competently perform SILA.

Solo Three-incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Using a Laparoscopic Scope Holder for Acute Cholecystitis

PURPOSE: L aparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) i s a c ommonly p erformed procedure for t he management of acute cholecystitis. The presence of an inexperienced scopist or a shortage of manpower could be problematic in emergency surgical cases. To overcome these potential problems while ensuring a stable surgical view during LC, we performed solo surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the results of 22 patients who underwent solo three-incision LC (S-TILC) and 31 patients who underwent the conventional three-incision LC (C-TILC) from March 1, 2015, to August 31, 2015. We compared the two groups with respect to the patients' clinical characteristics, and intraoperative and postoperative results; and severity grade as defined by the updated Tokyo guidelines 2013 (TG13) criteria. RESULTS: No significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups. The intraoperative perforation rates were higher in the C-TILC group than in the S-TILC group (p=0.016). Two cases were converted to human-assisted LC in the S-TILC group because of severe adhesions and the scope holder breaking down. No significant differences were found between the groups with respect to length of hospital stay; postoperative diet habit; or rates of post-cholecystectomy diarrhea, abdominal pain, wound complication, or complication according to the Clavien-Dindo grade. CONCLUSION: S-TILC and C-TILC were comparable in terms of results, and this solo surgery in LC could be performed for cases of acute cholecystitis during shortage of skilled manpower.

Solo Intracorporeal Esophagojejunostomy Reconstruction Using a Laparoscopic Scope Holder in Single-Port Laparoscopic Total Gastrectomy for Early Gastric Cancer

Single-incision laparoscopic total gastrectomy for gastric cancer has recently been reported by Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. However, this is not a popular procedure primarily because of the technical difficulties involved in achieving consistent intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy. At Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, we recently introduced a simple, easy-to-use, low-profile laparoscopic manual scope holder that enables the maintenance of a stable field of view, the most demanding condition in single-port gastrectomy. In this technical report, we describe in detail the world's first solo single-incision laparoscopic total gastrectomy with D1+ lymph node dissection and intracorporeal esophagojejunostomy for proximal early gastric cancer.