Single-port versus multi-port cholecyastectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis: a retrospective comparative analysis

BackgroundTrans-umbilical single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic gallbladder disease is becoming increasingly accepted worldwide. But so far, no reports exist about the challenging single-port surgery for acute cholecystitis. The objective of this study was to describe our experience with single-port cholecystectomy in comparison to the conventional laparoscopic technique.MethodsBetween August 2008 and March 2010,73 patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease and histopathological signs of acute cholecystitis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our institution. Thirty-six patients were operated on with the single-port technique (SP group) and the data were compared with a control group of 37 patients who were treated with the multi-port technique (MP group).ResultsThe mean age in the SP group was 61.5 (range 21–81) years and in the MP group was 60 (range 21–94) (P=0.712). Gender, ASA status and BMI were not significantly different. The number of white blood cells was different before [SP: 9.2 (range 2.8–78.4); MP: 13.2 (range 4.4–28.6); P=0.001] and after the operation [SP: 7.8 (range 3.5–184.8); MP: 11.1 (range 5–20.8); P=0.002]. Mean operating time was 88 (range 34–174) minutes in the SP group vs 94 (range 39–209) minutes in the MP group (P=0.147). Four patients (5%) required conversion to an open procedure (SP: 1; MP: 3; P=0.320). During the follow-up period of 332 (range 29–570) days in the SP group and 428 (range 111–619) days in the MP group (P=0.044), eleven (15%) patients developed postoperative complications (P=0.745) and two patients in the SP group required reoperation (P=0.154).ConclusionsTrans-umbilical single-port cholecystectomy for beginning acute cholecystitis is feasible and the complication rate is comparable with the standard multi-port operation. In spite of our good results, these operations are difficult to perform and should only be done in high-volume centers for laparoscopic surgery with experience in single-port surgery.