A Single-Port Technique for Laparoscopic Extended Stapled Appendectomy

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has become an exciting area of surgical development. Significant limitations to this surgical concept include lack of surgical expertise and appropriate flexible instrumentation. An alternative and competing technology to NOTES is single-incision laparoscopic surgery. Methods. This study describes a patient in whom a laparoscopic surgical technique for appendectomy used incisions that were all placed within the umbilicus. Results. The operative time was 40 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged on postoperative day 1. There were no perioperative complications at 1-month follow-up. Conclusion. Appendectomy performed through laparoscopic incisions placed within the umbilicus was technically feasible and safe. Development of advanced flexible instrumentation and visualization platform may facilitate this new operative approach.