Feasibility of transumbilical single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy using conventional instruments

Objectives: To report the surgical outcomes of transumbilical single-port laparoscopic hysterectomies for benign uterine diseases. Materials and methods: This prospective observational study recruited patients with benign diseases and scheduled for laparoscopic hysterectomy from March 2010 to April 2011 to undergo transumbilical single-port laparoscopy, and recorded the surgical outcomes. Results: A total of 56 patients were included, with mean (±standard error of the mean) age 46.5±0.5years and mean body mass index 23.5±0.5kg/m². Among these patients, 32 (57.1%) had a history of previous abdominal surgeries, whereas in 55 (98.2%) the procedures were completed with transumbilical single-port access and without any ancillary trocar. Mean surgical time was 121.1±5.7minutes. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 279.5±38.4mL. Mean uterine weight was 392.3±34.2g. The single additional trocar (1.8%) was needed for extensive enterolysis. Two patients (3.6%) needed blood transfusion. The median of postoperative hospital stay was 3days. There were no major intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conclusion: In the hands of experienced laparoscopists, transumbilical single-port laparoscopy is a safe and feasible method of hysterectomy for patients with benign uterine diseases.