Is there still any role for minilaparoscopic-cholecystectomy? A general surgeons' last five years experience over 932 cases

Minilaparoscopic Cholecystectomy Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: An Endless Debate

Background: Our systematic review and meta-analysis examine the impact of minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy (MLC) versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). Some authors previously compared these surgical approaches without reaching any clear conclusion, since then, further trials have been performed, but an update was needed. Materials and Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the CENTRAL were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials comparing MLC versus CLC up to August 2019. The outcome measures used for comparison were operative time (OT), overall morbidity, intra- and postoperative complications, conversion and reintervention rate, length of hospital stay (LOS), postoperative pain (POP), and cosmetic results. A meta-analysis of relevant studies was performed using RevMan 5.3. Results: Fifteen studies, including 863 patients, were considered eligible to collect data and entered the meta-analysis. A total of 415 patients in the MLC group versus 448 in the CLC group were compared. No statistical difference as for overall morbidity, intra- and postoperative complications, conversion and reintervention rate, LOS, and cosmetic results were retrieved among the groups. CLC results faster and MLC shows to be the least painful. Conclusions: According to the available high-level evidence, both surgical approaches resulted substantially equivalent to perform LC, with some advantages of CLC as for OT and of MLC concerning POP. As a consequence, we can conclude that either procedure is superior or inferior to the other one; actually, we are not able to suggest the adoption of any of the two on a routine basis.

Systematic review of cystic duct closure techniques in relation to prevention of bile duct leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

AIM

To study the effect of different techniques of cystic duct closure on bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for biliary disease.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane and EMBASE was performed. Rate of cystic duct leakage (CDL) was the primary outcome. Risk of bias was evaluated. Odds ratios were analyzed for comparison of techniques and pooled event rates for non-comparative analyses. Pooled event rates were compared for each of included techniques.

RESULTS

Out of 1491 articles, 38 studies were included. A total of 47491 patients were included, of which 38683 (81.5%) underwent cystic duct closure with non-locking (metal) clips. All studies were of low-moderate methodological quality. Only two studies reported separate data on uncomplicated and complicated gallbladder disease. For overall CDL, an odds ratio of 0.4 (95%CI: 0.06-2.48) was found for harmonic energy vs clip closure and an odds ratio of 0.17 (95%CI: 0.03-0.93) for locking vs non-locking clips. Pooled CDL rate was around 1% for harmonic energy and metal clips, and 0% for locking clips and ligatures.

CONCLUSION

Based on available evidence it is not possible to either recommend or discourage any of the techniques for cystic duct closure during LC with respects to CDL, although data point out a slight preference for locking clips and ligatures vs other techniques. No separate recommendation can be made for complicated gallbladder disease.

[Minilaparoscopy with 5 mm optics and 3 mm trocars]

Minilaparoscopy was introduced already 20 years ago. In spite of reduced diameter, technical performance of modern trocars and instruments has improved substantially. While carrying out a minilaparoscopic procedure, the required position of the trocars and the surgical strategy remain the same. The most important step towards minilaparoscopy is reduction of the diameter of the laparoscopes from 10 to 5 mm. The 5 mm laparoscopes show high resolution and transport enough energy to properly illuminate the surgical field. Minilaparoscopic procedures help to improve cosmetic results and reduce postoperative pain, but postoperative complication rates are not affected. Use of one 5 mm trocar causes higher tissue tension than two 3 mm trocars and an additionally placed 3 mm trocar will not increase the complication rate. Therefore, a reduced risk of trocar hernia formation may be expected when a minilaparoscopic approach is used. Efficiency has been proven for minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and hernioplasty (TAPP/TEP) whereas overall available evidence across the literature remains poor. Further miniaturization is linked directly to video editing: physical limitations in classic optic systems have already been reached; therefore, reduction of optical chip systems could be a possible alternative.

MINILAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY

Background :

Minilaparoscopy is considered one of the minimally invasive options available for acute appendicitis treatment, although not always employed in less complexity public health services.

Aim :

Report surgical outcomes of minilaparoscopy use in acute appendicitis treatment.

Method:

The study included 21 patients undergoing minilaparoscopic appendectomy with instrumental of 3 mm. The following variables were analyzed: sex, age, body mass index, stage of appendicitis, surgical time, hospital stay, surgical complications, conversion rate to conventional laparoscopy or laparotomy, pain after surgery and aesthetic result.

Results :

Twelve men and nine women underwent minilaparoscopic appendectomy. The average age was 27,8 years, the mean BMI was 24,8 kg/m². The operative time ranged from 33 to 160 min and the average of hospital stay was three days. Among the 21 patients, 20 reported mild pain or no pain in the first postoperative day. The aesthetic result was considered "satisfactory" and "very satisfactory" by 95% of the patients.

Conclusions :

The minilaparoscopy is viable technique for treating acute appendicitis with a satisfactory recovery. It combines the benefits of minimally invasive procedures with results similar to conventional techniques.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: consensus conference-based guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard technique for gallbladder diseases in both acute and elective surgery. Nevertheless, reports from national surveys still seem to represent some doubts regarding its diffusion. There is neither a wide consensus on its indications nor on its possible related morbidity. On the other hand, more than 25 years have passed since the introduction of LC, and we have all witnessed the exponential growth of knowledge, skill and technology that has followed it. In 1995, the EAES published its consensus statement on laparoscopic cholecystectomy in which seven main questions were answered, according to the available evidence. During the following 20 years, there have been several additional guidelines on LC, mainly focused on some particular aspect, such as emergency or concomitant biliary tract surgery.

METHODS

In 2012, several Italian surgical societies decided to revisit the clinical recommendations for the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of gallbladder diseases in adults, to update and supplement the existing guidelines with recommendations that reflect what is known and what constitutes good practice concerning LC.

Micro-laparoscopic colectomy: initial experience

INTRODUCTION

Single-port surgery (SPS) has been growing in acceptance as an alternative to traditional laparoscopic surgery. With SPS, there are technical skills required that are not routine to standard laparoscopy. We explored the feasibility of micro-laparoscopic colectomy (MLC) using 3 mm instruments in patients eligible for standard laparoscopic surgery.

METHODS

We performed an IRB approved retrospective review of all segmental colectomy performed by a single surgeon in selected patients using a micro-laparoscopic technique. We utilized two 3-mm trocars and one 12-mm Hasson umbilical incision, which was later widen for specimen extraction.

RESULTS

Eighty patients underwent MLC: Twenty-six for diverticulitis, 26 for cancer, 22 for polyps, 3 for Crohn's disease, and 3 for volvulus. Eight patients were converted into either laparotomy or hand port (10 %) and three patients required the addition of one 5-mm trocar. Mean final extraction incision length was 3.9 cm. In cancer patients, the average lymph node harvest was 26 (range 13-70). The 30-day mortality was zero and the anastomotic leak rate was 1.3 %.

CONCLUSIONS

MLC is safe and feasible when performing colon resections for benign and oncologic pathology. Extraction incision length is small and offers similar cosmesis to SPS without the steep learning curve needed to learn this technique.

Evaluation of pain scores after single-incision and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a randomized control trial in a rural Indian population

INTRODUCTION

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is considered to be less invasive and have less morbidity than conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC). However, there is a relative paucity of data regarding postoperative pain scores in rural Indian populations following SILC. Also, data pertaining to the applicability of SILC in rural Indian population are scant.

METHODS

In the present randomized control trial, pain scores after SILC and CLC were evaluated. Sixty patients with gallstone disease were randomly assigned to one of two groups with 30 patients each: the CLC group and the SILC group. Postoperative pain scores were recorded on the visual analog scale at 8 hours, 24 hours and 7 days after surgery.

RESULTS

The patients were comparable with respect to age, sex and BMI. Operative time was longer for the SILC group (47.73 ± 5.57 min vs 69.53 ± 8.96 min; P < 0.0001).The pain scores were similar in both groups at 8 hours (3.61 ± 0.41 vs 3.50 ± 0.51; P = 0.36) and 24 hours (3.30 ± 0.59 vs 3.20 ± 0.40; P = 0.44) postoperatively. On day 7, the SILC group had lower pain scores than the CLC group (2.56 ± 0.56 vs 1.16 ± 0.37; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

There was no distinct advantage to SILC with regard to immediate postoperative pain. Pain was significantly less (P < 0.01) in the SILC group on postoperative day 7.