Single-port Laparoscopic Surgery

There is a recently emerging surgical technique that has begun taking the spotlight: single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS). Using this method, surgeons operate using a single incision (usually in the abdomen) rather than creating multiple cuts into the skin. This approach is an appealing alternative to other laparoscopic surgery methods, as it offers numerous benefits such as reducing recovery time, less pain, and little scarring. 

Single-port Laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) is a new advancement in minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive procedures require one or more smaller incisions, while open-heart surgery requires one large incision. SPLS is a procedure in which a surgeon performs a small, 11-20 mm incision in the skin. Once the incision has been made, a specialized port is inserted into the cut. This port is used to insert a camera and all of the other necessary medical instruments required for this procedure. This technique is especially useful when performing pelvic or abdominal surgeries. 

To begin the procedure, the surgeon will first administer general anesthesia to ensure that the patient remains pain-free. The surgeon will then create the incision and inflate the abdomen using carbon dioxide gas. This is done to ensure that there is sufficient space to perform the surgery. There are some cases in which the surgeon will insert a robot into the incision for increased precision. 

There are several advantages of the SPLS procedure. One of its most notable advantages is that patients experience less pain compared to traditional procedures, leading to reduced hospital stays and quicker recovery times as well. Furthermore, there is a lessened risk for infection and excess bleeding, since this procedure only requires a few incisions at most. Patients also experience less scarring due to the single incision. All of these benefits make SPLS a highly appealing technique.

However, despite these advantages, this procedure comes with its disadvantages as well. For instance, it has technical challenges which require highly trained surgeons. Surgeons need to insert all the required medical instruments in a singular entrypoint, which is very difficult. Additionally, surgeons need to work through limited triangulation and retraction of instruments. There are additional surgical risks associated with SPLS, such as organ damage, infection, seroma, and complications with the healing process. All of these drawbacks need to be taken into consideration before opting in for SPLS.

In summary, SPLS offers a promising alternative to traditional methods, such as open-heart surgery, due to numerous advantages such as reduced recovery time, less scarring, etc. Despite this, there are disadvantages such as the risk for organ damage, infection, and other medical complications. It is important to take each of these factors into account to determine if this is the right treatment method for you.

Written by Hawi Teju at Incisionary

References

Clinic, C. (2017, June 13). Single-port surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses one small incision. There’s less room to move. But it’s less painful and recovery time is faster. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17476-single-port-surgery 

Kirshtein, B., & Haas, E. M. (2012). Single Port Laparoscopic Surgery: Concept and Controversies of New Technique. Minimally Invasive Surgery, 2012, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/456541 

Single Incision Laparoscopy - Anthony Siow. (2023, October 2). Anthony Siow. https://anthonysiow.com/keyhole/single-incision-laparoscopy/ 

to, C. (2008, March 9). medical intervention. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-port_laparoscopy