A Comparative Prospective Study of 5 mm Epigastric Port Vs 10 mm Epigastric Port in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy at Tertiary Care Center

Abstract Background: Now a days laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) becomes gold standard procedure for symptomatic gallstone disease, worldwide. Now a days minimally invasive techniques are being accepted drastically in whole world. In past few years surgeons had great efforts in making this conventional four port LC more minimal invasive and less postoperative painful by reducing numbers and size of ports like, Three ports LC (10mm umbilical,10 mm epigastric port, 5mm working port), Two port LC, SILS (Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery) & using 5 mm epigastric port instead of 10 mm etc. Aims and Objectives: Minimizing size of epigastric port from 10 mm to 5 mm in conventional four port laparoscopic cholecystectomy will lead to less postoperative pain, less chance of port site bleeding and infection, less requirement of postoperative analgesic dose and more satisfaction in cosmetic purpose without compromising the advantages of most popular 4 port LC with easy reproducibility. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in GMERS Medical College and Civil Hospital, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India from February 2022 to February 2023 for a period of one year. 50 patients were diagnosed as symptomatic gallbladder stone disease clinically and radiologically, were included in this study after taking written informed consent. These patients were randomly divided into two groups equally (Group A and Group B). In group A patient we used 10 mm epigastric port and in group B patients we used 5 mm epigastric port. Rest 3 ports, one 10 mm umbilical port (for 30ºtelescope), one 5 mm port in right hypochondrium midclavicularline (working port), another 5 mm port in right lumbar region (for gallbladder fundus retraction) were same in both groups A and B. Results: By reducing the size of epigastric port from 10 mm to 5 mm, we can reduce postoperative port site pain, postoperative requirement of analgesics, operating time, port site bleeding and port site hernia etc with good patients’ satisfaction and cosmetic outcomes. Conclusion: Using 5 mm epigastric port instead of 10 mm in LC, we can make conventional four port laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery more satisfactory for patients in terms of less postoperative pain with low analgesic requirement and good cosmetic outcomes.