OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility and safety of transumbilical single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODSEighty-two cases with gallbladder diseases were underwent with transumbilical single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Some difficulties and countermeasure in operations were analyzed.

RESULTSNine in all patients were converted because of the surrounding inflammation of gallbladder, difficult to dissect in Calot's triangulation and variation of gallbladder artery. Of them, 6 cases converted to two-hole laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 3 cases to open operation. Other 73 cases were successfully operated with transumbilical single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The success rate was 89.0%. The average operative duration was 48.4 min. The average operative blood loss was 20.8 ml. Patients returned to liquid food on the first day after operation. Hospital duration was 3 ~ 6 d. During 13.7 months of follow-up, there was no bile duct injury, large bleeding, incision infection, bile fistula and umbilical hernia. The incision healed well. The scar in umbilicus was concealing and difficult to be observed.

CONCLUSIONSTransumbilical single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and feasible. The difficulties in technique are easy to be broken through.