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Long-term results of transvaginal/transumbilical versus classical laparoscopic cholecystectomy—an analysis of 88 patients

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Abstract

Introduction

Transvaginal/transumbilical cholecystectomy using rigid instruments (TVC) is an alternative to the traditional laparoscopic technique (LC). Due to a lack of long-term data, the transvaginal approach is still controversial.

Methods

Our first 50 TVC patients and 50 LC patients from the same time period with the same limits according to age, BMI and ASA classification were asked 48 questions 2 years postoperatively (mean) about resuming sexual intercourse, the domains “satisfaction” and “pain” of the German Female Sexual Function Index, resuming everyday life, postoperative abdominal pain, subjective impairment, incisional hernias, satisfaction with the aesthetic result, the overall postoperative result, and others. Postoperative sexual satisfaction and pain were defined as main outcome. Forty-six TVC patients and 42 LC patients answered the questions (36 TVC patients and 25 LC patients could answer the questions about sexual function).

Results

No significant differences were found for postoperative sexual function, change in menorrhea, vaginal discharge and postoperative abdominal pain. TVC patients felt significantly less impaired postoperatively (p = 0.034). Two patients in the LC group developed a trocar hernia (p = 0.225). TVC patients could resume everyday life significantly earlier (p < 0.001) and were significantly more satisfied with the aesthetic (p < 0.001) and the overall postoperative result (p = 0.001). Significantly more TVC patients would recommend the applied surgical technique to friends and family (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This long-time prospective data acquisition from 88 or, for some data, 61 patients accounts for the safety of TVC, particularly with regard to sexual function. Additionally, it found less postoperative impairment, quicker recovery and improved satisfaction for TVC as compared to LC.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Prof. Dr. R. Lefering and PD Dr. S. Sauerland of the Institute for Research in Operative Medicine (IFOM), Cologne, University of Witten/Herdecke for assistance with the statistical analysis of this study.

Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Abdominal, Vascular and Transplant Surgery, Cologne-Merheim Medical Center, Witten/Herdecke University, Cologne, Germany

    Dirk R. Bulian, Linda Trump, Jürgen Knuth, Nicola Cerasani & Markus M. Heiss

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  1. Dirk R. Bulian
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  2. Linda Trump
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  3. Jürgen Knuth
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  4. Nicola Cerasani
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  5. Markus M. Heiss
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Correspondence to Dirk R. Bulian.

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Bulian, D.R., Trump, L., Knuth, J. et al. Long-term results of transvaginal/transumbilical versus classical laparoscopic cholecystectomy—an analysis of 88 patients. Langenbecks Arch Surg 398, 571–579 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-013-1071-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-013-1071-8

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