Short-Term Efficacy of Transumbilical Single-Incision Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background

With the rising demand for minimally invasive and cosmetically appealing surgeries, transumbilical single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) has been increasingly adopted, albeit in a limited number of medical centers. Our team has successfully executed transumbilical SILC for benign gallbladder diseases. This study retrospectively analyzed and compared the efficacy of transumbilical SILC with that of conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (CLC).

Methods

We analyzed data from 358 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed at Shanghai East Hospital of Tongji University between January 2021 and October 2023. Of these, 186 cases underwent SILC (observation group), while 172 cases underwent CLC (control group). We compared patient demographics, perioperative outcomes, and satisfaction with incision scars. Primary outcomes included surgical efficacy and safety, whereas secondary outcomes encompassed postoperative hospitalization duration, pain levels, hospital costs, and scar satisfaction.

Results

No significant differences were observed in patient demographics between the two groups. Both the SILC and CLC groups exhibited similar operative times (39.56 ± 14.55 minutes versus 41.82 ± 16.13 minutes, P = .164) and intraoperative blood loss (11.34 ± 3.90 mL versus 11.28 ± 3.87 mL, P = .885). The single-incision approach led to earlier postoperative bowel function recovery (22.03 ± 3.60 hours versus 24.17 ± 3.22 hours, P < .01), lower 24-hour postoperative pain scores (2.06 ± 0.84 versus 2.35 ± 0.72, P < .01), shorter postoperative hospital stays (2.88 ± 0.86 days versus 3.33 ± 0.96 days, P < .01), comparable hospitalization costs (3411.67 ± 790.86$ versus 3494.50 ± 558.76$, P = .257), and better Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating scores (1.78 ± 0.70 versus 2.17 ± 0.89, P < .01). Patient satisfaction was higher with the single-incision technique (8.52 ± 0.79 versus 7.80 ± 0.75, P < .01). Both groups experienced one case of incision infection (SILC 0.54%, CLC 0.58%), and there was one case of postoperative bile leakage in the CLC group (0.58%). However, the difference in complications was not statistically significant (P > .05).

Conclusion

Transumbilical SILC demonstrates safe and effective near-term efficacy, offering benefits such as reduced postoperative pain and improved cosmetic outcomes, which support its clinical adoption.