Umbilical port versus epigastric port for gallbladder extraction in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis

Higher incidence of trocar site hernia with gallbladder extraction via umbilical versus epigastric trocar port: a multicentre retrospective analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Trocar site hernia (TSH) is a known complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Gallbladder extraction is typically performed through the umbilical or epigastric trocar port. However, data on the incidence of TSH in relation to the extraction site is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the need for surgical repair of TSH following gallbladder extraction through the umbilical versus epigastric trocar port.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted across two Dutch general hospitals. It assessed the occurrence of TSH after LC and examined commonly described risk factors in relation to the TSH location.

RESULTS

Among 2 377 patients that underwent LC, the extraction site of the gallbladder was known in 1756 patients. Gallbladder extraction was performed via the umbilical trocar port in 929 (53%) of cases and via the epigastric trocar port in 827 (47%) of cases. TSH repair was required in 36 (2.1%) patients, with a higher incidence in patients with gallbladder extraction through the umbilical trocar port (3.2%) compared to the epigastric trocar port (0.7%), (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The need for operative repair of a TSH after a LC is significantly reduced when the gallbladder is retrieved through the epigastric trocar site port compared to the umbilical trocar site port.

Impact of Specimen Extraction Site and Gallstone Size on Early Postoperative Pain Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is widely performed with generally favorable outcomes, but postoperative pain remains a significant issue, influenced by various factors including the specimen extraction site and gallstone size.

METHODS

A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on 100 patients undergoing LC. Participants were randomized to have the specimen removed through either the epigastric or umbilical trocar. Postoperative pain was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of trocar site and gallstone size on pain levels.

RESULTS

Patients whose specimens were extracted through the umbilical trocar experienced significantly less pain on postoperative days 1 and 3 ( P =0.006 and 0.014, respectively) than those with epigastric trocar extraction. In addition, patients with gallstones larger than 10 mm reported higher pain levels on day 3 ( P =0.001) irrespective of the extraction site.

CONCLUSIONS

The umbilical trocar site for specimen extraction and smaller gallstone size is associated with reduced early postoperative pain following LC. These findings suggest the importance of considering extraction site and gallstone size in managing postoperative pain in LC patients.

Comparison of gallbladder extraction via the subxiphoid port and the supraumbilical port during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most frequent postoperative complaint. To date, gallbladder extraction via the subxiphoid port (SXP) versus the supraumbilical port (SUP) is still controversial. Thus, the authors performed this randomized controlled trial to compare postoperative pain between the SXP and SUP for LC.

METHOD

From June 2021 to June 2023, patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to two groups. The perioperative data of both groups were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 253 patients were enrolled in the analysis. There were 126 in the SXP group and 127 in the SUP group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the duration of gallbladder extraction, whether the incision was extended, the least rate of pain, the average rate of pain, the right-now rate of pain, postoperative pain on the 5th, 7th, and 14th days, postoperative complications and Vancouver Scar scale. However, the SUP group had a lower the worst rate of pain (4.24±2.45 vs. 4.91±2.45, P=0.031) and 3 days of pain (3.35±1.57 vs. 3.75±1.52, P=0.045) than did the SXP group. The influence of pain on general activity (4.51±2.90 vs. 3.76±2.92, P=0.041), mood (3.62±2.66 vs. 2.92±2.36, P=0.028), walking ability (4.40±3.01 vs. 3.66±2.76, P=0.044), and enjoyment of life (3.19±2.68 vs. 2.32±2.34, P=0.007) in the SXP was more severe than that in the SUP.

CONCLUSION

The extraction of the gallbladder via the SUP is superior to that via the SXP because the early postoperative 24 h pain and pain on the third day are mild and do not increase the duration of gallbladder extraction or the risk of infection or hernia.

Pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) recommendations

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be associated with significant postoperative pain that is difficult to treat. We aimed to evaluate the available literature and develop updated recommendations for optimal pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A systematic review was performed using the procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) methodology. Randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews published in the English language from August 2017 to December 2022 assessing postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy using analgesic, anaesthetic or surgical interventions were identified from MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Databases. From 589 full text articles, 157 randomised controlled trials and 31 systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria. Paracetamol combined with NSAIDs or cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors should be given either pre-operatively or intra-operatively, unless contraindicated. In addition, intra-operative intravenous (i.v.) dexamethasone, port-site wound infiltration or intraperitoneal local anaesthetic instillation are recommended, with opioids used for rescue analgesia. As a second-line regional technique, the erector spinae plane block or transversus abdominis plane block may be reserved for patients with a heightened risk of postoperative pain. Three-port laparoscopy, a low-pressure pneumoperitoneum, umbilical port extraction, active aspiration of the pneumoperitoneum and saline irrigation are recommended technical aspects of the operative procedure. The following interventions are not recommended due to limited or no evidence on improved pain scores: single port or mini-port techniques, routine drainage, low flow insufflation, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), infra-umbilical incision, i.v. clonidine, nefopam and regional techniques such as quadratus lumborum block or rectus sheath block. Several interventions provided better pain scores but are not recommended due to risk of side effects: spinal or epidural anaesthesia, gabapentinoids, i.v. lidocaine, i.v. ketamine and i.v. dexmedetomidine.

Effect of retrieval bags in preventing surgical site wound infection during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in liver cancer patients: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis research was implemented to appraise the effect of retrieval bags (RBs) in preventing surgical site wound infection (SSWI) in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) in liver cancer (LC) patients. Inclusive literature research until April 2023 was done, and 1273 interconnected researches were reviewed. From a total of 11 researches that were chosen, 2559 ELC procedures in LC patients were at the starting point of the researches: 1273 of them were utilising RBs and 1286 were controls. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilised to appraise the consequence of RBs in preventing SSWI in ELC in LC patients by the dichotomous approach and a fixed or random model. RBs had significantly lower SSWI (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.38-0.76, p < 0.001) compared with controls in ELC in LC patients. However, no significant difference was found between RBs and controls in ELC in LC patients in bile spillage (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.21-1.24, p = 0.14), fascial extension (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.07-4.11, p = 0.55), postoperative collection (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.24-1.76, p = 0.40) and port site hernia (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.25-2.06, p = 0.54). RBs had significantly lower SSWI, and no significant difference was found in bile spillage, fascial extension, postoperative collection and port site hernia compared with controls in ELC in LC patients. However, caution needs to be taken when interacting with its values because there was a low sample size in some of the chosen researches and a low number of researches were found for some of the comparisons in the meta-analysis.

Effect of topical antibiotics on the prevention and management of wound infections: A meta-analysis

A meta-analysis research was implemented to appraise the effect of topical antibiotics (TAs) on the prevention and management of wound infections (WIs). Inclusive literature research was performed until April 2023, and 765 interconnected researches were reviewed. The 11 selected researches included 6500 persons with uncomplicated wounds at the starting point of the research: 2724 of them were utilising TAs, 3318 were utilising placebo and 458 were utilising antiseptics. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilised to appraise the consequence of TAs on the prevention and management of WIs by the dichotomous approach and a fixed or random model. TAs had significantly lower WI compared with placebo (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.38-0.92, p = 0.02) and compared with antiseptics (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.31-0.88, p = 0.01) in persons with uncomplicated wounds (UWs). TAs had significantly lower WIs compared with placebo and antiseptics in persons with UWs. However, caution needs to be taken when interacting with their values because of the low sample size of some of the chosen researches and low number of researches found for the comparisons in the meta-analysis.

Port Site Morbidities Following the Extraction of the Gallbladder from the Umbilical Port in Comparison to the Epigastric Port in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Port site morbidities after laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be related to the port used for the extraction of the gallbladder. Prior randomized trials that tried to address the suitable port for gallbladder extraction showed mixed results favouring epigastric, whereas others favoured umbilical. Thus, the present study was conducted with the aim of finding a suitable port for gallbladder extraction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methodology A total of 104 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to either the epigastric (Group 1) or umbilical (Group 2) port group for gallbladder extraction. Post-operative pain (by visual analogue scale (VAS)), the frequency of surgical site infection (SSI), and port site herniation were compared. Results Post-operative pain was lower in the umbilical port group in the initial 24 hours. The SSIs and port site herniation rates were lower in the umbilical port group; however, they were statistically not significant. Conclusion Less post-operative pain at the umbilical port may help with the early discharge of patients. In contrast to other studies, our trial had fewer infections and hernias in the umbilical port group.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Bag Extraction Versus Direct Extraction for Retrieval of Gallbladder After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

This analysis aims to evaluate the comparative outcomes of gallbladder extraction with a bag versus direct extraction in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). A systematic online search was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane database, The Virtual Health Library, Clinical trials.gov, and Science Direct. Comparative studies comparing bag versus direct extraction of the gallbladder in LC were included. Outcomes were surgical site infection (SSI), the extension of fascial defect to extract the gallbladder, intra-abdominal collection, bile spillage, and port-site hernia. Revman 5.4 (Cochrane, London, United Kingdom) was used for the data analysis. The results show eight studies were eligible to be included in this review with a total number of 1805 patients divided between endo-bag (n=835) and direct extraction (n=970). Four of the included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) while the rest were observational studies. The rate of SSI and bile spillage were significantly higher in the direct extraction group: odds ratio (OR)=2.50, p=0.006 and OR=2.83, p=0.01, respectively. Comparable results were observed regarding intra-abdominal collection between the two groups(OR=0.01, p=0.51). However, the extension of a fascial defect was higher in the endo-bag group (OR=0.22, p=0.00001), and no difference was observed regarding the port-site hernia rate (OR-0.70, p=0.55). In conclusion, extraction of the gallbladder with an endo-bag provides a lower rate of SSI and bile spillage with similar results regarding post-operative intra-abdominal collection. Although with the endo-bag, the fascial defect will more likely need to be increased to extract the gallbladder. However, the port-site hernia rate remains similar between the two groups.

Updated guideline for closure of abdominal wall incisions from the European and American Hernia Societies

BACKGROUND

Incisional hernia is a frequent complication of abdominal wall incision. Surgical technique is an important risk factor for the development of incisional hernia. The aim of these updated guidelines was to provide recommendations to decrease the incidence of incisional hernia.

METHODS

A systematic literature search of MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL was performed on 22 January 2022. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network instrument was used to evaluate systematic reviews and meta-analyses, RCTs, and cohort studies. The GRADE approach (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) was used to appraise the certainty of the evidence. The guidelines group consisted of surgical specialists, a biomedical information specialist, certified guideline methodologist, and patient representative.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine papers were included covering seven key questions, and weak recommendations were made for all of these. Laparoscopic surgery and non-midline incisions are suggested to be preferred when safe and feasible. In laparoscopic surgery, suturing the fascial defect of trocar sites of 10 mm and larger is advised, especially after single-incision laparoscopic surgery and at the umbilicus. For closure of an elective midline laparotomy, a continuous small-bites suturing technique with a slowly absorbable suture is suggested. Prophylactic mesh augmentation after elective midline laparotomy can be considered to reduce the risk of incisional hernia; a permanent synthetic mesh in either the onlay or retromuscular position is advised.

CONCLUSION

These updated guidelines may help surgeons in selecting the optimal approach and location of abdominal wall incisions.