Prospective randomized trial of single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus four ports laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder stones

Single port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: All operations were performed under general anaesthesia in the supine position with the operating surgeon on the patient’s left side. The sub-umbilical incision 20 mm in size was made by open technique. SILS (trademark) Port (Covidien) was inserted then. The SILS (trademark) Port is a flexible laparoscopic port that can accommodate up to three instruments through a single incision. The abdominal cavity was insufflated to a pneumoperitoneum of 12mmHg, and a 30 degrees laparoscope was then inserted. The patients were placed in a reverse Trendelenburg position, with the right side elevated. Instruments were then inserted through the rest of two 5 mm channels. The principal of surgery is same as the conventional 4-ports approach. Calot’s triangle was retracted under the help of two slings of sutures over the fundus and Hartman’s pouch. The cystic artery was dissected and transected after bipolar diathermy coagulation. The cystic duct was dissected and transected after endo-clips or endo-tie control. The gallbladder was dissected from gallbladder bed. The specimen was placed inside the retrieval bag and removed through the sub-umbilical port. Approximate duration 1 hour