Novel approach to minimizing trocar sites during challenging hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery utilizing the Gelport: trans-gel instrument insertion and utilization

PURPOSE: We present a novel technique for modified application of a hand-assist device, the Gelport (Applied Medical Resources, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), which uses a gel for intra-abdominal access. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 53-year-old woman with a history of rectal cancer treated by abdominoperineal resection, ileostomy, subsequent reanastomosis, chemotherapy, and radiation presented with a 6-cm upper-pole left renal mass. Staging was negative, and a CT scan showed no evidence of lymphadenopathy or renal vein involvement. The patient elected to undergo a hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Numerous intra-abdominal adhesions were encountered during initial periumbilical hand port placement. The initial adhesions were taken down in an open fashion; however, the proposed trocar sites still could not be exposed. The Gelport was placed, and a laparoscope was passed directly through the established central opening and the gel. A working instrument was then passed through the gel itself, allowing adhesiolysis under direct laparoscopic vision. RESULTS: The nephrectomy was completed laparoscopically in 4 hours and 15 minutes with lysis of adhesion occupying 90 minutes of the operative time. The estimated blood loss was 150 mL. Despite the technical difficulty of the case, the procedure was completed laparoscopically with two standard 12-mm trocars and a 5-mm lateral retraction trocar. CONCLUSION: The Gelport permits simultaneous insertion of the surgeon's hand and a working laparoscopic instrument. This allows for maximally efficient utilization of the incision made for hand-assist device placement and may minimize the need for additional trocars during challenging laparoscopic cases.     

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: incorporating advantages of hand assisted and standard laparoscopy

PURPOSE: We present an approach to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and intact specimen extraction, which incorporates hand assisted and standard laparoscopic techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A refined approach to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is described and our experience is reviewed. A low, muscle splitting Gibson incision is made just lateral to the rectus muscle and the hand port is inserted. A trocar is placed through the hand port and pneumoperitoneum is established. With the laparoscope in the hand port trocar 2 additional trocars are placed under direct vision. The laparoscope is then repositioned through the middle trocar and standard laparoscopic instruments are used through the other 2 trocars including the one in the hand port. If at any time during the procedure the surgeon believes the hand would be useful or needed, the trocar is removed from the hand port and the hand is inserted. RESULTS: This approach has been applied to 7 patients. Mean estimated blood loss was 200 cc (range 50 to 300) and mean operative time was 276.7 minutes (range 247 to 360). Mean specimen weight was 767 gm. (range 538 to 1,170). Pathologically 6 specimens were renal cell carcinoma (grades 2 to 4) and 1 was oncocytoma. Mean length of hospital stay was 3.71 days (range 2 to 7). There were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that this approach enables the surgeon to incorporate the advantages of the hand assisted and standard laparoscopic approaches.     

"Deviceless" hand-assisted laparoscopic donor nephrectomy

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (HLN) in living donors is a minimally invasive surgical modality that uses classic laparoscopic techniques combined with the surgeon's hand as a support tool during renal dissection. We describe our experience with 14 donors undergoing HLN with a novel “deviceless” technique (DL-HLN). We used a midline or a paramedian incision. The first 10-mm trocar (camera) was inserted near the umbilicus and another 10-mm trocar placed under laparoscopic vision at the level of the anterior axillary line above the iliac crest. DL-HLN was performed in 14 patients (11 women and 3 men) of overall mean age of 40 years (range = 33-60). Left nephrectomy was performed in all cases. Mean surgical time was 105 minutes (range = 60-150). Estimated blood loss was 50 to 800 mL (mean = 200 mL). Mean warm ischemia time was 3.5 minutes (range = 2-11). Mean hospital stay was 4 days (range = 3-6). In one case, uncontrollable hemorrhage developed due to a renal vein lesion at the level of the adrenal vein outlet, requiring conversion to open surgery. As to graft function, recipient serum creatinine on day 7 ranged from 0.9 to 2.6 mg/dL (mean = 1.6). We used no device in our technique. The pneumoperitoneum was maintained by the sealing effect of the muscular fascia around the surgeon's wrist. Moreover, the kidney was removed through the hand port without an Endobag. Our modified HLN technique avoids the use of costly disposables and offers the advantages of a smaller incision.     

Initial experience with laparoscopic single-incision triangulated umbilical surgery (SITUS) in simple and radical nephrectomy

Introduction

New transumbilical laparoendoscopic procedures are an emerging field in urologic surgery. We introduced the concept of single-incision triangulated umbilical surgery (SITUS) in 2009. SITUS technique uses straight optics and instruments in a triangulated fashion via three trocars placed through an umbilical incision resulting in a familiar laparoscopic environment. Aim of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility of SITUS in simple and radical nephrectomy in daily routine.

Materials and methods

From October 2009 to July 2010, in 3 patients with cirrhotic kidneys a simple and in 12 patients a radical nephrectomy was performed in SITUS technique. The umbilical fold was incised at three-fourth of its circumference; in the patient with radical nephrectomy, additionally small “c”-shaped skin flaps were removed. After achieving a pneumoperitoneum by Verres technique, a 5-mm camera port and then a cranial 5?mm and a caudal 11?mm working trocar were placed with at a distance of 5–10?cm with the aid of two Langenbeck hooks, thus allowing triangulation except in the radical nephrectomy patients, where an 11-mm caudal trocar (Endopath, Ethicon, Hamburg, GER) was used. Using long conventional laparoscopic instruments, En-Seal pressure coagulator and dissector (Erbe, Tuebingen, Germany), Hem-O-Lock clips (Weck, Teleflex, USA), and a 30° 5-mm optic (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, GER), the interventions were executed like conventional laparoscopic transperitoneal procedures.

Results

OR time was mean 127?min [120, 153] for cirrhotic kidney nephrectomy group and mean 137?min [91, 185] in the radical nephrectomy group. Mean hemoglobin drop was 1.5?g/dl [1.2, 1.7] in benign cases and 2.4 [1.1, 4.9] in radial nephrectomies. All except one diabetic patient with wound infection had an uneventful follow-up without postoperative complications. The patients were discharged at postoperative day 5 [3, 29].

Conclusion

SITUS technique for simple and radical nephrectomy is an attractive alternative to conventional laparoscopy and single-port surgery. It combines the common principles of traditional laparoscopy (straight instruments and triangulation) with single-port surgery (cosmesis and minimally invasiveness) resulting in adequate or time and short learning curve.     

Transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery-assisted minilaparoscopic nephrectomy: a step towards scarless surgery

The feasibility of a transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) nephrectomy has already been demonstrated using standard laparoscopic ports through the abdominal wall. We evaluated the feasibility of a transvaginal NOTES-assisted minilaparoscopic nephrectomy (mLN).The patient is positioned in a semilumbotomy position with legs separated to allow for vaginal access. A 3.5-mm port is placed at the umbilicus for a 30° laparoscope; two 3.5-mm ports are placed in the flank in the same location as for a standard transperitoneal nephrectomy; and a 12-mm port is placed through the vagina, perforating the vaginal wall. Kidney dissection is performed following the steps of a traditional nephrectomy. The renal pedicle is dissected and secured with Hem-o-Lok clips through the vaginal access port. The specimen is then extracted through an extended incision in the posterior wall of the vagina.We treated five patients. The average operative time was 120 min, blood loss was 160 ml, and no complications were recorded.Our initial experience suggests that transvaginal NOTES-assisted mLN is feasible and appears to be safe. It is simpler than a pure NOTES procedure and ensures excellent cosmetic results.     

经脐单一切口腹腔镜联合2mm trocar治疗腹腔型隐睾

目的探讨经脐单一切口腹腔镜联合2 mm trocar治疗腹腔型隐睾的应用价值。方法 2009年11月～2011年1月,采用经脐单一切口腹腔镜联合2 mm trocar治疗11例腹腔型隐睾。脐下缘1.5 cm弧形切口,置入自制多通道trocar,置入5 mm腹腔镜和操作器械1把,脐与耻骨联合连线中点处直接穿刺置入2 mm trocar,置入2 mm腹腔镜抓钳,进行手术。结果 10例11侧成功将隐睾下降固定于阴囊;1例1侧行隐睾切除术。手术时间30～70 min,平均45 min。无手术并发症发生。10例随访3～14个月,平均8.8月,未发现下降的睾丸萎缩。结论经脐单一切口腹腔镜联合2 mm trocar治疗操作不复杂的腹腔型隐睾可行。     

A 3 trocar technique for transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy

PURPOSE: Additional trocars and retractor instruments may enhance the risk of iatrogenic injuries during laparoscopic nephrectomy. We describe a modified technique of laparoscopic nephrectomy requiring only 3 ports of entry and no extra instruments instead of the 5 ports, 2 of which are used for retractors, usually required. MATERIALS AND METHODS: With the patient in full flank position a 10 mm. trocar is inserted between the umbilicus and subcostal margin, a 5 mm. trocar is placed subcostal in the midclavicular line and a 12 mm. trocar is inserted over the iliac crest in the anterior axillary line. The first step is incision of the line of Toldt and medial reflection of the colon. During the second step of vascular controls the posterosuperior attachments of the kidney are left untouched, keeping the renal vessels stretched, with no need for an extra instrument. The third step consists of severing the remaining posterior and superior attachments of the kidney followed by specimen retrieval. A total of 14 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy with this technique. RESULTS: All 14 procedures were completed without an additional port. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications, except 1 abdominal wall hematoma. Mean operating time was 120 minutes (range 70 to 230) and mean hospital stay was 5 days (range 3 to 7). CONCLUSIONS: Transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy with laparoscopic access limited to 3 trocars is a reliable and safe technique.     

单孔微犁腹腔镜小儿腹股沟疝高位结扎术368例报告

目的探讨单孔微型腹腔镜治疗小儿腹股沟疝的疗效。方法2006年6月-2011年2月使用3mm微型腹腔镜,于脐部做-4mm切口,置入4mm troear作为观察孔,采用将硬膜外穿刺针自制成内芯有倒钩的疝钩针治疗小儿腹股沟痂368例。结果368例手术均成功,于术时间5-35min,平均7min。术后住院l-2d,平均1．5d。无并发症。100例随访6-24个月,平均12个月,2例分别于术后l、3个月复发,再次行腹腔镜手术治愈,术后无明显瘢痕。结论单孔微型腹腔镜治疗小儿腹股沟疝安全、有效,并发症少,术后无明显瘢痕。     

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy via two ports, using the "Twin-Port" system

We developed a "Twin-Port" system that allows a 5-mm camera and a forceps to be inserted through a single port for the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure. An infraumbilical incision of approximately 10 mm is made to insert the "Twin-Port". After pneumoperitoneum is performed, a 5-mm camera and grasper are inserted to expose the gallbladder. A 5-mm trocar is inserted approximately 1 cm below the xiphoid process, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed via two ports. The gallbladder is removed through the opened "Twin-Port". The operation was performed in 40 patients without acute inflammatory gallbladder disease. None of the patients required open abdominal surgery. In 3 patients, an additional 5-mm trocar was inserted because of difficulty in removing the gallbladder from the gallbladder fossa. Mean operation time was 49 min. The size of the infraumbilical wound was almost the same as that with the conventional procedure using a 10-mm trocar. The "Twin-Port" system was devised to make laparoscopic cholecystectomy possible through two ports in the clinical setting. It may be less invasive than other LC procedures, and also has cosmetic and cost advantages. This procedure appears promising as a practical surgical treatment for cholecystolithiasis and gallbladder polyps. Received: September 12, 2000 / Accepted: November 7, 2000     

经脐单一部位腹腔镜下9号针头腹膜外缝合治疗小儿斜疝

目的探讨经脐单一部位腹腔镜下应用9号注射针头腹膜外缝合治疗小儿斜疝的可行性。方法 2011年3～10月对51例小儿斜疝横行切开脐孔皮肤约1.0 cm,开放式置入5 mm trocar后进镜,建立气腹后于切口内5 mm trocar旁盲穿置入3 mm trocar,置抓钳。9号针头内穿7号丝线,刺入内环口前壁腹膜外,先内侧后外侧腹膜外环形缝合内环口,腹腔内、皮下分别打结完成疝囊高位结扎。结果 51例手术均成功,8例术中发现对侧隐匿性斜疝。手术时间：32例单侧10～20 min,平均13 min;19例双侧20～35 min,平均24 min。无腹壁皮下气肿、阴囊肿胀等并发症。51例随访2～7个月,平均5个月,无复发。结论经脐单一部位腹腔镜下应用9号注射针头腹膜外缝合治疗小儿斜疝,器械简单,操作容易,效果确切,美容效果好,值得推广。     

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: surgery without a visible scar

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been recognized since 1992 as the gold standard procedure for gallbladder surgery. The authors propose a single-incision laparoscopic (SILS) cholecystectomy as a step toward less invasive surgical procedures. A single intraumbilical 12-mm incision is made, and the umbilicus is pulled out, exposing the fascia. Pneumoperitoneum is induced with the Versastep Veress access needle. A 5-mm trocar then is introduced, and the abdominal cavity is explored with a 5-mm 30° optic. Second and third trocars are introduced respectively at the left and right sides, near the first trocar. Two sutures are used to suspend the gallblabber and to ensure optimal exposure of the Triangle of Calot. Dissection is performed as a normal retrograde cholecystectomy using an Endoshear roticulator in the left trocar and an Endograsp roticulator in the right hand. The cystic artery and cystic duct are clipped separately with a standard 5-mm clip applier and then excised. The gallbladder is removed through the umbilical incision. Of the 12 patients who underwent SILS cholecystectomy without major complications, 8 had previously undergone other laparoscopic surgeries. The body mass index (BMI) exceeded 35 in three cases. Operative time decreased and stabilized from the first 3-h SILS cholecystectomy to approximately 50 min after the first five cases. At this writing, the authors find SILS cholecystectomy to be feasible, safe, and effective.     

Rapid communication: transvaginal single-port NOTES nephrectomy: initial laboratory experience

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) using purpose-built equipment has never been applied to urologic surgery. Herein, we present our initial experience with a trans-vaginal single-port NOTES nephrectomy. METHODS AND RESULTS: An acute experiment was performed in a female farm pig. A single 12-mm trocar was placed in the midline and the TransPort Multi-Lumen Operating Platform (USGI Medical, San Clemente, CA) was passed transvaginally. This flexible device has four working channels and can be locked into position, thereby creating a rigid multitasking platform that allows two-handed tissue manipulation. Dissection was performed using an endoscopic needle knife and a tissue grasper for retraction. Via the 12-mm port, the renal artery and vein were taken separately with a vascular EndoGIA and standard laparoscopic titanium clips, respectively. The kidney was placed in a 10-mm EndoPouch retriever and removed intact via the vagina. The total operative time was 300 minutes. Conclusion: Transvaginal NOTES nephrectomy can be accomplished in a porcine model. Additional testing on survival animals is necessary to validate this approach.     

Rapid communication: robot-assisted NOTES nephrectomy: initial report

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) using the daVinci robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) has never been applied to urologic surgery. Here we present our initial experience with a combined transvaginal and transcolonic, single-port, robot-assisted NOTES nephrectomy. METHODS: An acute experiment was performed in a female farm pig. A single 12-mm trocar was placed in the midline, and two 12-mm standard laparoscopic ports were placed into the abdomen via the vagina and the colon. The robotic ports were then telescoped into the 12-mm ports, and the daVinci S robot was docked. Dissection was performed using the Hot Shears and the ProGrasp instruments. The robotic camera was placed via the midline port and held by an assistant. Using the 12-mm transvaginal port, the renal artery and vein were divided separately with a vascular Endo GIA (US Surgical, Norwalk, CT) stapler. The kidney was placed into a 10-mm entrapment sack and removed intact via the vagina. RESULTS: Total operative time was 150 minutes. Estimated blood loss was less than 50 mL. No intraoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: A robot-assisted NOTES nephrectomy was accomplished in a porcine model using the daVinci S robot. Additional testing on survival animals is necessary to further explore this approach.     

双孔三通道腹腔镜下肾囊肿去顶术

目的探讨双孔三通道腹腔镜肾囊肿去顶术的可行性及疗效。方法 2009年1月～2010年4月对15例单纯肾囊肿行双孔三通道腹腔镜下肾囊肿切除术。脐孔内侧上缘弧形切口置入2个5 mm trocar,锁骨中线与第12肋下缘皮肤切口置入1个5 mm trocar。超声刀距肾实质5 mm处沿囊肿边缘环形切除囊肿顶壁。结果 15例手术均获成功,手术时间25~60 min,平均45 min;术后无出血、漏尿等并发症发生,3～5 d出院。15例术后随访6～24个月,平均14个月,B超或CT复查未见囊肿复发。结论双孔三通道腹腔镜手术治疗肾囊肿可行,疗效满意。     

Percutaneous cholecystostomy with locking trocar: how I do it?

Cholecystectomy and open cholecystostomy are associated with a high mortality rate in critically ill patients. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous cholecystostomy has a high success rate with few complications. The following method of percutaneous cholecystostomy with locking trocar (LT) under direct laparoscopic vision is seen to be an effective, safe, and practical procedure. After the abdomen is prepared from xiphisternum to symphysis pubis, the umbilicus and surrounding skin are infiltrated with 1% combined lignocaine and adrenaline. A 10-mm laparoscopy trocar is inserted via a 10-mm subumbilical incision. After a camera is inserted via the trocar, the abdomen and gallbladder are exposed. The skin of the geometric projection of fundus is infiltrated with the same solution, and a 5-mm LT is introduced via a 5-mm skin incision directed to the fundus of the gallbladder guided by the direct view of a laparoscope. When the LT has penetrated to the gallbladder, the bile and contents of the gallbladder are aspirated immediately to reduce the pressure, and the trocar is locked. The locked trocar is fixed to the abdominal wall under traction until the completion of peritonization to prevent bile leakage. The gallstones can be extracted through the trocar by a laparoscopy forceps. This technique was used for a 75-year-old woman with calculous cholecystitis and cardiopulmonary insufficiency, and her progress at this writing is good.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy: report of 100 cases

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy is not yet widespread in Japan. After our first hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy (HALapNx) in 2001, we report our 100 cases and examine the possibility of making this technique widely available in Japan. METHODS: HALapNx was performed in 100 cases (44 males and 56 females) from February 2001 through July 2003. The operative procedure for HALapNx was briefly described here. First, 2 12-mm ports were placed in the midaxillary line at the superior and inferior level of the umbilicus. Next, a 5-cm incision was made in the midline periumbilicus and the hand port system was fitted through the abdominal incision. After 10 mm Hg pneumoperitoneum, HALapNx begins with mobilization of the left colon. RESULTS: HALapNx was completed successfully in all cases and no patients required conversion to laparotomy. The estimated blood loss was 33.5 +/- 40.3 g and no patient required blood transfusion. The mean operative time was 168.8 +/- 47.6 minutes, and there was no major complication in a donor. CONCLUSIONS: HALapNx is technically feasible and may offer several advantages over open donor nephrectomy in terms of less blood loss, less postoperative pain, and minimal cosmetic disfigurement. In Japan, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is not yet widespread, possibly due to the need for surgical laparoscopic skills. We believe that the best way to make laparoscopic donor naphrectomy widely available is through hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery.     

Minimally invasive needlescopic cholecystectomy

We utilized a mini-sized grasper and retractor measuring 2.5 mm in diameter and a new mini-sized laparoscope measuring 3 mm in diameter to perform a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A 10/12-mm trocar was inserted as the first trocar for the laparoscope and specimen extraction. Under a direct laparoscopic view, the mini-sized grasper and retractor were inserted and the laparoscopic procedures were performed mainly through the 5-mm trocar placed on the left upper quadrant as the working port. These procedures were successfully performed on five patients with a comparable operation time to that of a conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but appeared to be more minimally invasive.     

Single Incision Laparoscopic Splenectomy: The First Two Cases

Aims  Single incision laparoscopic procedures are presumed to be as a step towards pure natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. However, loss of requirement of any perforation of visceral organ and endoscopic equipment make this technique more popular and easily performable. Herein we report two splenectomy cases where single incision surgery (SILS) technique was performed. Cases  Two females of 28 years old and 22 years old with the diagnoses of ITP underwent single incision laparoscopic splenectomy. Preoperatively with the receival of steroid therapy, thrombocyte counts were 92,000/m³. A 2-cm umbilical incision was used for the placement of three (5 mm) trocars. One 5-mm videoscope (30°) and roticulated laparoscopic dissector/grasper were the main tools during surgical procedure. Spleen was removed with a plastic removal bag through the umbilical trocar incision. The whole procedure ended in 110 and 150 min in both cases without any problem. Results  Two patients were discharged on third and second postoperative days with the thrombocyte counts of 174,000/m³ and 400,000/m³, respectively. Conclusion  Although there were some procedures performed with single incision technique like cholecystectomy, prostatectomy, and partial nephrectomy, as far as we are concerned this is the first report about laparoscopic splenectomy performed with single incision surgery technique.     

A Modified Umbilical Incision for Specimen Extraction After Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery

Background One advantage of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery is the absence of laparotomic incisions. This advantage is reduced when an auxiliary incision is performed to remove surgical specimens larger than the trocar. Methods A special incision was performed at umbilical trocar level that enabled removal of a large surgical specimen as in right hemicolectomy (colic), gastric resection, and splenic surgery. Results The authors have used this method routinely for 10 years for all cases requiring removal of a surgical specimen too large for the normal incision of a 10-mm trocar. Conclusion The authors maintain that this method avoids the use of auxiliary incisions, which undo the many benefits of laparoscopic surgery.