The impact of gallbladder retrieval from an epigastric vs. umbilical port on trocar-site complications A prospective randomized study.

AIM: Port-site infection and hernias are among the most of the complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Although surgical technique of LC is described to obtain critical view of safety, there is still no consensus on ideal portsite for gallbladder retrieval. In this comparative study, we aimed to investigate the effects of gallbladder retrieval site on postoperative port site complications following LC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 120 patients underwent LC for symptomatic gallbladder disease. Standard 4-port LC was routinely performed. Patients were divided into two groups consecutively. The gallbladder was removed through the umbilical port-site in Group A (n=60) and the epigastric port-site in Group B (n=60). Postoperative port site complications were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was also applied to the patients on the postoperative day 1, 10 and 30.

RESULTS: Demographic features were similar in both groups. Postoperative pain in terms of VAS score was significantly lower for Group B on the postoperative day 1 and 30 (p=0.019, and p=0.001 respectively). The need for enlargement and time of GB retrieval was similar between groups. There is no statistical difference in terms of port-site infection or hernia between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study provide epigastric port retrieval in terms of plausible reasons including significantly lower postoperative pain scores in both short- and long-term and quite lower trocar site-related complications. Key words: Gallbladder disease, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Port-site complications.