Optimal port site placement

Preoperative Computer-Assisted Laparoscopy Planning for the Minimally Invasive Surgical Repair of Hiatal Hernia

Minimal invasive surgical procedures such as laparoscopy are preferred over open surgery due to faster postoperative recovery, less trauma and inflammatory response, and less scarring. Laparoscopic repairs of hiatal hernias require pre-procedure planning to ensure appropriate exposure and positioning of the surgical ports for triangulation, ergonomics, instrument length and operational angles to avoid the fulcrum effect of the long and rigid instruments. We developed a novel surgical planning and navigation software, iMTECH to determine the optimal location of the skin incision and surgical instrument placement depth and angles during laparoscopic surgery. We tested the software on five cases of human hiatal hernia to assess the feasibility of the stereotactic reconstruction of anatomy and surgical planning. A whole-body CT investigation was performed for each patient, and abdominal 3D virtual models were reconstructed from the CT scans. The optical trocar access point was placed on the xipho-umbilical line. The distance on the skin between the insertion point of the optical trocar and the xiphoid process was 159.6, 155.7, 143.1, 158.3, and 149.1 mm, respectively, at a 40° elevation angle. Following the pre-procedure planning, all patients underwent successful surgical laparoscopic procedures. The user feedback was that planning software significantly improved the ergonomics, was easy to use, and particularly useful in obese patients with large hiatal defects where the insertion points could not be placed in the traditional positions. Future studies will assess the benefits of the planning system over the conventional, empirical trocar positioning method in more patients with other surgical challenges.

Specimen extraction from the defunctioning ileostomy site or Pfannenstiel incision during total laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic low anterior resection is commonly performed, but there is controversy about the optimal specimen extraction site. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of two different specimen extraction sites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective study of total laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer, we compared the outcomes of specimen extraction from a right lower quadrant trocar site that is also used for a defunctioning ileostomy (21 patients) or a Pfannenstiel incision (25 patients).

RESULTS

The median visual analog pain score on postoperative Days 1 and 3 and meperidine requirement were significantly higher in the Pfannenstiel than in the ileostomy site group. Time to resumption of oral diet and hospital stay were significantly shorter in the ileostomy site than in the Pfannenstiel group. All four parastomal hernias were observed in the ileostomy site group.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the stoma site for specimen extraction in total laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer may minimize abdominal wall incisions, decrease postoperative recovery time, decrease pain level and analgesic requirement, and improve cosmesis. Although this procedure may increase the incidence of parastomal hernia, hernia repair may be performed during ileostomy takedown surgery, and the temporary stoma site (which also is the right lower quadrant trocar entry site) may be suggested as a proper specimen extraction site.