Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15599
Revised: March 25, 2014
Accepted: May 12, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Single incision laparoscopy (SIL) has become an emerging technology aiming at a further reduction of abdominal wall trauma in minimally invasive surgery. Available data is encouraging for the safe application of standardized SIL in a wide range of procedures in gastroenterology and hepatology. Compared to technically simple SIL procedures, the merit of SIL in advanced surgeries, such as liver or colorectal interventions, compared to conventional laparsocopy is self-evident without any doubt. SIL has already passed the learning curve and is routinely utilized in expert centers. This minimized approach has allowed to enter a new era of surgical management that can not be acceded without a fruitful combination of prudent training, consistent day-to-day work and enthusiastic motivation for technical innovations. Both, basic and novel technical specifics as well as particular procedures are described herein. The focus is on the most important surgical interventions in gastroenterology and aims at reviewing the current literature and shares our experience in a high volume center.
Core tip: This paper demonstrates the current state of single port laparoscopic surgery in gastroenterology and hepatology. The defined indications, standardized and novel technical specifics as well as the surgical strategy of particular procedures that are successfully performed are described herein according to the review of the international literature and the surgical standards developed at our department which is regarded one of the high-volume centers for single port surgery in the world (more than 2200 procedures).