Periumbilical laparoscopic surgery through triple channels using common instrumentation

Single-port laparoscopic technology is effective in minimally invasive surgery. However, this technology requires expensive instrumentation. In the present study, an alternative minimally invasive technique, periumbilical laparoscopic surgery through triple channels using common instrumentation, is introduced. Increased use of this new technique may be worthwhile since its results are comparable with those of single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Periumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy using common instruments through triple channels was performed in 78 cases of simple cholecystolithiasis and 30 of gallbladder polyposis which were compared with a control group consisting of 356 cases of traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The surgery was successfully completed using common instrumentation without complications in 106 cases from the experimental group. However, in 2 cases the surgery was changed to the traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to bleeding in the area of Calot's Triangle. No statistical differences in the amount of surgical bleeding, intestinal function restoration time, hospitalization time and cost were observed between the two groups. The mean surgery times of the experimental and control groups were 110.31±14.57 and 43.98±7.64 min, respectively. The difference in surgery times was statistically significant. Based on relevant experience of the process of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the periumbilical triple channel technique is safe and feasible for use in basic-level medical units and does not produce abdominal scarring so an unblemished appearance is preserved. Moreover, this approach only requires common laparoscopic instruments.