Single port access laparoscopic right hemicolectomy

BACKGROUND: Single port access (SPA) surgery is a rapidly evolving field as it combines some of the cosmetic advantage of the Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) and allows performing surgical procedure with standard surgical instruments. We report in this paper a new technique of umbilical SPA right hemicolectomy with conventional surgical oncologic principle and technique of minimally invasive colectomy. METHODS: Preliminary experience with umbilical SPA right hemicolectomy in a patient with degenerated ascending colon polyp. RESULTS: Umbilical SPA right hemicolectomy was feasible with conventional laparoscopic instruments. Carcinologic surgical principle can be respected using this technique as pathological specimen had sufficient surgical margins (>10 cm) and lymph nodes (33). Operative time was 158 min. No peroperative or postoperative complications were recorded. CONCLUSION: SPA right hemicolectomy is feasible and safe when performed by experienced laparoscopic surgeons. SPA right hemicolectomy may have the advantage over NOTES approach to offer the safety of laparoscopic colectomy especially for haemostasis and anastomosis. It has to be determined whether or not this approach would offer benefit to patients, except in cosmesis, compared to standard laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.