Transumbilical Gelport Access Technique for Performing Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS)

Single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an area of active research within general surgery. A number of procedures, including cholecystectomy, appendectomy, urologic procedures, adrenalectomy, and bariatric procedures, are currently being performed with this methodology. There is, as yet, no standard published technique for single-port access to the peritoneal cavity for SILS. We describe, herein, an access technique utilizing existing instrumentation including a Gelport and wound retractor that is reliable and easy. This technique has been used successfully at our institution for a number of single incision laparoscopic procedures.