Single port laparoscopic surgery now popular

Single port laparoscopic surgery or Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) is being practiced for the last three years at various centers with great success. It has an edge over standard multiple port laparoscopic surgery by providing a single entry point, explained Dr Gautam Lahiri, Specialist General Surgeon, Zulekha Hospital, Dubai. Being a single incision entry, it is cosmetically better accepted and less painful than standard multiple port entry.\SILS was developed at Straussburg, Germany with a device called Gelport which accommodates four channels for entry inside the abdomen. Standard laparoscopic hand instruments are modified to provide some working space inside the narrow confines of the single port. However, advanced and technically difficult laparoscopic surgeries cannot be completed with this approach where conversion to multiple ports or open approach is adopted or more advanced 6 channel Endocone is used. Last three years, all over the world SILS is getting wide popularity amongst laparoscopic surgeons and well-informed patients. In this approach a small curved incision of 3-4cms is made inside the umbilical fold which gets completely hidden after surgery. The scar is almost invisible. As it uses umbilicus as the port of entry, it is the safest as umbilicus is least vascular and can be safely entered. There are many ways of suture-less closure of the laparoscopic ports namely subcuticular closure, steritape and tissue glue. SILS provides a safe surgical plan which does not leave any scar or suture marks. It entails less pain and less hospital stay. Surgeries can be contemplated by this approach for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, diagnostic and staging laparoscopy and hernia repairs. From khaleejtimes