Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a new retraction technique.

AbstractBackground : Laparo-endoscopic single site cholecystectomy receives great interest from the surgical community. It has potential for reducing postoperative pain, length of hospital stay and improving cosmesis. Minimally invasive surgeons have been forced to develop techniques for providing adequate retraction of the gallbladder. Herein, we describe a new retraction technique to improve the dissection of Calot’s triangle.Surgical technique : Twelve patients underwent laparo-endoscopic single site laparoscopic cholecystectomy using this retraction technique. An intra-umbilical skin incision was made by pulling out the umbilicus. A SILS® port was placed through an open approach. We inserted a 10-mm 30o camera through the SILS® port without using any trocar. One suture was knotted in the middle of the gallbladder. Gallbladder retraction was achieved by the use of an EndoClose® needle that was inserted into abdominal cavity at the subcostal border. The floppy knot was held by the notched end of the End...