Single-incision laparoscopic versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for Hirschsprung's disease: A comparison of medium-term outcomes

IntroductionThis study aims to report medium-term outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and compare its results with conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS).Patients and MethodsSeventy-five patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) underwent operations from January 2009 to December 2012 in our institution (SILS, n = 40; CLS, n = 35). SILS procedure is similar to CLS, but uses a single, 1.5-cm horizontal skin incision in the umbilicus for laparoscopic access. Operative characteristics and medium-term outcomes were assessed.ResultsOn average, patients in the SILS group had shorter operative times (mean ± standard deviation, 226 ± 69.4 min) than those in the CLS group (268.9 ± 83.6 min) (P = 0.01). Fourteen cases (35%) in the SILS group and ten cases (28.6%) in the CLS group had extended HD. Medium-term outcomes did not significantly differ between the groups, and the SILS group had better cosmetic results.ConclusionsSILS could be safely performed in HD patients with good medium-term outcomes. Although SILS and CLS procedures had similar medium-term outcomes, SILS has advantages such as better cosmetic results and shorter operative times.