Complications of Single Port Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery

Abstract

Any new surgical approach or technique requires a stringent inquisition of its relative merits and risks. When laparoscopic cholecystectomy was introduced nearly two decades ago, a small rise in complications during the learning curve of the procedure was accepted by both physicians and patients given the tangibly lessened morbidity and shortened convalescence that were associated with the approach [1]. Single port laparoscopy was conceptualized and refined over the last 18 months in an attempt to further reduce patient discomfort and to improve cosmesis. Collectively, over 200 single port urologic procedures have been successfully completed and include both extirpative and reconstructive indications [2–4]. Thus far, results have been generally favorable with a modicum of complications commensurate with any new technique. However, the superiority of the single port approach as compared to standard laparoscopy has yet to be firmly established [4]. Given that the single port approach is, at least in the short term, demonstrating only marginal differential benefit, complications with single port surgery must be critically evaluated. This chapter will offer a brief review of the single port laparoscopic literature with an emphasis on reported complications and finally outline our algorithm for addressing single port adverse events.