Background: Single incision laparoscopy remains controversial due to technical challenges which may cause suboptimal outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and equivalency of the single incision sleeve gastrectomy (SISG) when compared to the traditional multiport sleeve gastrectomy (MPSG) approach in a matched cohort evaluating technical aspects and postoperative results.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a consecutive cohort of 113 SG (MPSG = 77, SISG = 36). The 36 patients who underwent SISG were included as the case group. Thirty-six MPSG patients were included in the control group, in 1:1 ratio with cases after matching for BMI, age, race, gender, and additional demographic data. Operative time (OT) in minutes and length of stay (LOS) in days was measured and excess weight loss (EWL) at 6 months and 1 year was collected and evaluated.
Results: Mean BMI was equivalent (SISG 43.06, MPSG 43.72, p = 0.36). Mean OT for the SISG was 116.78 and 118.25 for the MPSG (p = 0.84), and mean LOS was 1.80 for the SISG and 1.75 for the MSPG (p = 0.75). EWL at 6 months was 58.4 % for the SISG and 58.5 % for the MPSG (p = 0.98) and 72.3 and 74.1 % (p = 0.77) for 1 year, respectively. There were no leaks in either group. There was one reoperation for postoperative bleeding in the MPSG group.
Conclusions: Sleeve gastrectomy can be performed safely using single incision techniques with equivalent outcomes for weight loss.