Three-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy safe option to Standard Four-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Recently published study aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of three-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy as an alternative to the conventional four-port approach. The study involved a prospective observational analysis of 102 patients who underwent the three-port approach, evaluating parameters such as age, sex, intra-operative difficulties, outcomes, and the need for conversion to four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Modifications in the technique included the use of a pre-emptive analgesia and specific port placements. The study found that the mean operative time was 52.68 minutes, with difficulty encountered in 18.6% of cases due to various factors such as pericholecystic adhesions and mucocele of the gallbladder. The postoperative pain was minimal, with a mean visual analog scale score of 1.22, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.08 days. Only 2.9% of cases needed conversion to four-port cholecystectomy for safety reasons. The study concluded that three-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe alternative, especially in difficult cases such as post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and mucocele of the gallbladder. The researchers emphasized that the reduced number of ports, pre-emptive analgesia, and improved cosmesis make this approach a viable option in the treatment of gallstone disease. However, they acknowledged the need for further comparative studies to establish its safety and feasibility. The study was conducted with approval from the institutional ethics committee, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Reference –

Chatterjee A, Kumar R, Chattoraj A (January 13, 2024) Three-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy as a Safe and Feasible Alternative to the Conventional Four-Port Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. Cureus 16(1): e52196. doi:10.7759/cureus.52196