Laparoendoscopic Single-site Surgery in Urology: Worldwide Multi-institutional Analysis of 1076 Cases

Abstract

Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) has gained popularity in urology over the last few years. Objective: To report a large multi-institutional worldwide series of LESS in urology. Design, Setting, And Participants: Consecutive cases of LESS done between August 2007 and November 2010 at 18 participating institutions were included in this retrospective analysis. Intervention: Each group performed a variety of LESS procedures according to its own protocols, entry criteria, and techniques. Measurements: Demographic data, main perioperative outcome parameters, and information related to the surgical technique were gathered and analyzed. Conversions to reduced-port laparoscopy, conventional laparoscopy, or open surgery were evaluated, as were intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results and Limitations: Overall, 1076 patients were included in the analysis. The most common procedures were extirpative or ablative operations in the upper urinary tract. The da Vinci robot was used to operate on 143 patients (13%). A single-port technique was most commonly used and the umbilicus represented the most common access site. Overall, operative time was 160 ± 93 min. and estimated blood loss was 148 ± 234 mL. Skin incision length at closure was 3.5 ± 1.5cm. Mean hospital stay was 3.6 ± 2.7 d with a visual analog pain score at discharge of 1.5 ± 1.4. An additional port was used in 23% of cases. The overall conversion rate was 20.8%; 15.8% of patients were converted to reduced-port laparoscopy, 4% to conventional laparoscopy/ robotic surgery, and 1% to open surgery. The intraoperative complication rate was 3.3%. Postoperative complications, mostly low grade, were encountered in 9.5% of cases. Conclusions: This study provides a global view of the evolution of LESS in the field of minimally invasive urologic surgery. A broad range of procedures have been effectively performed, primarily in the academic setting, within diverse health care systems around the world. Since LESS is performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons, the risk of complications remains low when stringent patient-selection criteria are applied.

Public Perception of “Scarless” Surgery: A Critical Analysis of the Literature

“…5 Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) uses a single incision through which the abdominal cavity and/or retroperitoneum is entered, the surgical field is exposed, and the diseased organ is directly addressed. 6 Early reports with LESS have cited its feasibility and potential for improved outcomes, particularly cosmesis. However, serious questions remain regarding its pragmatism outside of centers of excellence.…”

Single plus one port robotic radical prostatectomy (SPORP); Initial experience

“…An increasing number of centers worldwide have adopted LESS (8). However, it came with surgical limitations such as lack of triangulation, the instrument clashing, and the unfavorable ergonomics.…”

Single-Port Repair of Diastasis Recti and Umbilical Hernia Combined with Abdominoplasty

“…Given the fact that it has only really been in existence for 5 years, thousands of cases have been performed across many surgical disciplines 16 , including general surgery (cholecystectomy, 17 hernia repairs, 18 appendectomy, 19 and colorectal resections 20 ), urology, 21 and gynecology. 22 Collaboration between specialties, in this case herniology and plastic surgery, enables an old problem, namely diastasis of the recti, to be addressed in a different light, although further work in terms of patient numbers and longer-term follow-up will determine whether this new concept should be universally adopted.…”