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Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a Pediatric Population: A Preliminary Report

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become a standard procedure for treatment of gallbladder diseases. The operation is performed through a four-trocar technique. Single-incision laparoscopy (SIL) has recently gained popularity. The purpose of our study was to review our cases of SIL cholecystectomy and to evaluate the safety and feasibility of this technique. After the approval of the Institutional Review Boards, we performed a retrospective chart review of our SIL cholecystectomy cases performed between January 2008 and August 2009. Pertinent clinical data were extracted. The outcomes were reported as operating room time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of stay, and intravenous narcotic use. We identified 24 patients (19 females and five males) with a mean age of 15 years. Most patients (67%) had a diagnosis of symptomatic cholelithiasis. Two patients had gallstone pancreatitis, three had acute cholecystitis, and one had a hydropic gallbladder. Two patients had an intraoperative cholangiogram performed. Average operating room time was 97.5 ± 34.5 minutes (range, 65 to 145 minutes). There were no intraoperative complications. All patients had minimal (one to three doses) need for intravenous narcotics. All patients have had excellent cosmetic results on postoperative follow-up. SIL cholecystectomy in children is safe and feasible, even in the setting of acute cholecystitis and the need for cholangiogram.