Stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS)

Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Posted on 05/04/2020 by Dr. C. P. Dadhich

Stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is an advanced technique in the field of minimally invasive surgeries. The new technique replaces the earlier need for 3 or more incisions with a single incision near the belly button for standard laparoscopic gallbladder surgery. The stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery is preferred by patients because it has cosmetic advantages, less pain, fewer chances of injury to other organs, no visible scars, and faster recovery than traditional methods. Apart from gallbladder surgery, stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery is now being used to treat Appendix and Hernia as well.

The Procedure of Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

This new method is often described as the future of minimally invasive surgery which is performed entirely through a single incision. In this procedure, laparoscopic and surgical instruments are used to enter the abdominal cavity via a single-minute incision in the abdomen. The single incision is made by the surgeon close to the umbilicus or navel of the patient. The incision is made carefully and just of the right size to allow it to be easily hidden, thus, resulting in a scar-less surgery.

Qualification for Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

Patients that need surgery for their appendix, gallbladder issues, or even obesity can be termed the most ideal fit for stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery. Over the years, this procedure has been increasingly researched and has successfully advanced.

It is now being used to treat patients that need appendix surgery, gallbladder surgery, and bariatric surgery, such as sleeve gastrectomy. However, not all patients qualify for a Stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery. Patients that have had several abdominal surgeries in the past or suffer from severe inflammation are not eligible for this particular procedure since it reduces the visibility and movement inside of the abdomen.

Advantages of Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery

A stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery is very effective and has a lot of advantages over other traditional methods. Some of the most common ones are:

• The new method replaces the need for making three to four incisions such as made in standard laparoscopy. The Stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery, as the name implies, requires only one cut (less than 1cm) in the belly button.
• The surgical method is more cosmetically preferred by the patients since it leaves no scars. Hence, it is also known as a scarless and stitchless hysterectomy.
• It is a simple and short procedure that only requires a day’s care
• The patient suffers very little or almost no pain and has a very good recovery rate
• The laparoscopic procedure has very less risk of infection or injury to the surrounding tissues and organs such as the abdominal wall nerves and blood vessels.
• Moreover, in this procedure, the requirement for painkillers and antibiotics is reduced.
• Since the recovery is fast, the patient can resume normal activities and work soon
• The procedure is more cost-effective as compared to several other traditional methods.

Comparing Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery to Traditional Surgeries

The novel stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery is more advantageous over several other traditional methods such as open surgery, 3-5 incision laparoscopy surgery, etc.

Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery VS. Open Surgery

• In stitchless single-incision surgery, the surgeon makes only one cut that is less than 1cm in size. While on the other hand, in open surgery, the surgeon makes a large incision about 8-10cm in size.
• The recovery period in open surgery is about 2-3 weeks, which is fairly longer than the 1-2 days of recovery period needed after a stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery.
• Open surgery is bound to leave a large, visible, and ugly scar; whereas stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery does not leave a scar. It is cosmetically excellent.
• The chances of a person developing an infection or another medical condition such as a hernia are very common in open surgery. But in the case of a Stitchless single-incision surgery, the chances of the same are very minimal.
• On the other hand, there is a high risk of the patient experiencing pain and nerve damage in open surgery. While in a stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery, the chances of pain or nerve damage are very minimal.

Stitchless Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery VS. 3-5 Incision Laparoscopy

• In stitchless single-incision surgery, the surgeon makes only one cut that is less than 1cm in size. While on the other hand, in a 3-5 incision laparoscopy, the surgeon makes 3-4 punctures of 5-10mm in size.
• The recovery period in a 3-5 incision laparoscopy surgery is about 5-10 weeks, which is fairly longer than the 1-2 days of recovery period needed after a stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery.
• A 3-5 incision laparoscopy surgery will leave a scar, which might be ugly. Whereas the stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery does not leave a scar. It is cosmetically excellent.
• The chances of a person developing an infection or another medical condition such as a hernia in a 3-5 incision laparoscopy surgery are more in comparison to a Stitchless single-incision surgery.
• On the other hand, there is a moderate risk of the patient experiencing pain and nerve damage in a 3-5 incision laparoscopy surgery. While in a stitchless single-incision laparoscopic surgery, the chances of pain or nerve damage are very minimal.

Overall, given the advancements in the field of Stitchless single incision laparoscopic surgery, the method is increasingly being adopted to treat patients effectively.