Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy has become the most popular weight loss surgery currently, but it inevitably leaves multiple small scars in the abdomen. Although the appearance of single-incision laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy achieve better cosmetic results, it may lead to postoperative complications such as umbilical hernia and umbilical infection. The author has developed a new surgical approach that can compensate for these deficiencies, which we called needlescopic laparoscope sleeve gastrectomy (NLSG).
Methods: Four consecutive patients underwent needlescopic laparoscope sleeve gastrectomy between July 2024 and August 2024. A 3-mm trocar located at the lower left abdomen is for the 2.7-mm needlescopic laparoscope to observe. Another 3-mm trocar located at the right upper abdomen is for the 2.7-mm needlescopic intestinal clamp to assist in surgery. The 12-mm trocar at the navel serves as the main operating hole, through which the ultrasonic knife and endoscopic linear cutter stapler enters. All 3-mm incisions are not sutured, and the 12-mm incision at the navel is sutured intradermally to achieve complete invisibility of the wound. All patients used the same surgical instruments, technique, and perioperative protocol.
Results: The procedure was successfully performed in all patients. The average surgical time is 57 ± 9.1 min. There were no mortalities or postoperative complications noted during the 3-month follow-up period.
Conclusion: Needlescopic laparoscope sleeve gastrectomy is safe, feasible, and great potential.
Keywords: Bariatric surgery; Minimally invasive; Needlescopic surgery; Obesity; Sleeve gastrectomy.
© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.