Single laparoscopic incision transabdominal (SLIT) surgery-adjustable gastric banding: a novel minimally invasive surgical approach

Abstract

Natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has become an exciting area of surgical development. However, there are significant limitations to this surgical concept due to the lack of surgical expertise and appropriate flexible instrumentation. An alternative and competing technology to NOTES is single-access surgery. We present a novel surgical technique for placement of an adjustable gastric band utilizing a single laparoscopic incision which was ultimately used for implanting the subcutaneous access port. This new technique is called single laparoscopic incision transabdominal (SLIT) surgery which describes an advanced laparoscopic bariatric operation that can be performed through a tiny slit. The operative time was 55 min. There were no intraoperative complications. The patient did well postoperatively and was discharged on postoperative day 1. There were no postoperative complications at 1-month follow-up. Adjustable gastric banding performed through a single laparoscopic incision is technically feasible. The procedure was performed with mostly existing ports, laparoscopic instrumentations, and visualization platform. Advantages of SLIT surgery compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery will ultimately require further randomized clinical trials.