Clipless Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy is a commonly performed operation for patients diagnosed with gall stones. The surgery is generally offered to patients with either symptoms or complications from their gallstones.
Usually the procedure involves electrosurgery and sealing of the gall bladder duct and arteries with titanium clips. The clipless cholecystectomy does away with the need for electrosurgery and safely seals the ducts and arteries without the need for clips.
The procedure has advantages in utilising a single instrument in performing the operation.
Patient satisfaction and safety have driven this technique to be developed, resulting in its implementation for patients undergoing surgery for gall stone disease. Why the change of technique? Ergonomics:A single instrument means avoidance of repeated instrument changes during the operation.
Selecting different instruments breaks the natural flow of the operation and may distract the surgeon.
The retrograde (top to bottom) dissection is naturally suited to the instrument and helps to minimise confusion regarding the vitally important anatomy in this area of the body.
Most laparoscopic surgeons for dissection and control of blood vessels in surgery on the bowel or stomach no longer use electrosurgery. It is a logical progression to use the same principle in gall bladder surgery.
It tackles the concerns regarding smoke production and inadvertent injuries to the abdominal organs and structures.
Results:
Patient satisfaction from their surgery and the resulting increase in patients able to leave hospital the same day (over 90%) has driven the clipless cholecystectomy procedure to be offered as the technique of choice by this surgeon.