Single-incision laparoscopic versus conventional laparoscopic surgery for Hirschsprung's disease: A comparison of medium-term outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to report medium-term outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and compare its results with conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients with Hirschsprung's disease (HD) underwent operations from January 2009 to December 2012 in our institution (SILS, n=40; CLS, n=35). SILS procedure is similar to CLS, but uses a single, 1.5-cm horizontal skin incision in the umbilicus for laparoscopic access. Operative characteristics and medium-term outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS: On average, patients in the SILS group had shorter operative times (mean±standard deviation, 226±69.4min) than those in the CLS group (268.9±83.6min) (P=0.01). Fourteen cases (35%) in the SILS group and ten cases (28.6%) in the CLS group had extended HD. Medium-term outcomes did not significantly differ between the groups, and the SILS group had better cosmetic results.

CONCLUSIONS: SILS could be safely performed in HD patients with good medium-term outcomes. Although SILS and CLS procedures had similar medium-term outcomes, SILS has advantages such as better cosmetic results and shorter operative times.