Single-Incision Laparoscopy: Boon or Bust?

Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - July/August 2009

Medtech Insight -- One of the most recent trends in laparoscopic surgery is to access the peritoneal cavity via the umbilicus using a single skin incision. Single-incision laparoscopy introduces additional constraints to the conventional laparoscopic environment and requires surgeons to use new flexible and articulating instruments and novel access platforms. Over the past two years, medical device companies have been racing to develop enabling technologies for single-incision laparoscopy, but the approach is controversial and its future appears uncertain as surgeons debate the cost/benefits of the single-incision laparoscopic approach. Read more...

Single-Incision Laparoscopy: Boon or Bust?

Article preview reprinted from Medtech Insight - July/August 2009

Laparoscopic abdominal surgery traditionally requires two to four small (one-quarter inch) incisions to allow passage of the scope and surgical instruments into the abdominal cavity. While much less invasive than open laparotomy, which involves a six- to 14-inch incision and an extended recovery time, these small incisions are still painful and they do leave scars on the abdomen. Recently, however, researchers have been working to further diminish the invasiveness of laparoscopy by reducing the number of incisions, or (when natural orifices can be used) eliminating them altogether.

One of the most recent trends in laparoscopic surgery today is to access the peritoneal cavity via the umbilicus using a single skin incision. There are various names and acronyms for these single-incision approaches. (See Exhibit 1.) But no matter what it's called, single-incision laparoscopy introduces additional constraints to the conventional laparoscopic environment and requires surgeons to use new flexible and articulating instruments and novel access platforms. Over the past two years, medical device companies have been racing to develop enabling technologies for single-incision laparoscopy, but the approach is controversial and its future appears uncertain as surgeons debate the cost/benefits of the single-incision laparoscopic approach.

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Single-incision laparoscopy or natural orifice surgery: Which will win the day, or is there room for both? Find out in the NEW 48-Page SPECIAL REPORT from Medtech Insight: "Fulfilling the Promise of the Scarless Surgery Revolution -- When will breakthrough endoscopic technologies hit prime time?"

Companies mentioned in this article:

Advanced Surgical Concepts

Cambridge Endoscopic Devices Inc.

Covidien Ltd.

Imperial College London

Johnson & Johnson

Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc.

Karl Storz GMBH & Co.

Karl Storz Endoscopy-America

Novare Surgical Systems Inc.

Olympus Corp.

Olympus America

Power Medical Interventions Inc.

Stryker Corp.

Stryker Endoscopy

TransEnterix Inc.

USGI Medical

University Louis Pasteur

University of California

University of California, San Diego

University of Texas

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

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