Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing single incision versus conventional laparoscopic appendectomy.

Background: Single incision laparoscopic appendectomy (SILA) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of SILA when compared with CLA through a systematic review.

Methods: We performed an electronic search of EMBASE, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

[Single incision laparoscopic surgery].

One of the aims of the new technologies and techniques in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is to achieve a surgery without or with minimal visible scars. Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) might be considered to be a paradigm of this development but it has not yet been possible to implement this universally. Nevertheless, the resultant innovation of research into NOTES has enabled "bridge technologies" to be introduced that allow MIS to be developed with the required standards of efficiency and safety.

[Parastomal hernias: background, current status and future prospects].

Parastomal hernia (PH) is the most common delayed complication in stoma surgery. Only a third of these are operated on, something which is partly explained by the high recurrence rate observed after repair. The use of prosthetic materials has improved the results, although they continue to be below the ideal.

Prevention of trocar site hernias: description of the safe port plug technique and preliminary results.

The aim of this study was to describe a new technique to prevent the development of incisional hernias in trocar sites. Between March and June 2006, a pilot study was conducted to determine the feasibility of the safe port plug technique using the Bioabsorbable Hernia Plug to prevent incisional hernia in trocar sites. The device was implanted in the umbilical trocar site (10-11 mm) of 17 patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery during the study period.

Division of the small bowel with the LigaSure Atlas device during the right laparoscopic colectomy.

Background: Bowel division and anastomosis were facilitated greatly with the advent of stapling techniques. Since then, there have not been any new evolving technologies to facilitate these maneuvers. For this reason, we recently applied the LigaSure Atlas device (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) to the division of the small bowel during this procedure to obtain a reliable and low-cost division of the ileum.