Laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery hysterectomy using robotic lightweight endoscope assistants

Current laparoscopic and robotic hysterectomy techniques require three to five small incisions in the abdominal wall. Each additional port contributes an additional risk for port site complications. Because of these risks, and in an effort to improve cosmesis, surgery through a single incision is being explored. New versatile robot devices can provide a less cumbersome and less expensive alternative to the conventional multi-arm robot devices. In the case reported here, that of a 37-year-old female undergoing hysterectomy, we combined the use of these two technologies in a novel way. By utilizing a single laparoscopic port site in addition to two lightweight robotic endoscope assistants, we were able to decrease risk and improve cosmesis while allowing single-operator control of all instrumentation. The novel use of this robotic device demonstrates a potential decrease in the need for surgical assistants and thus a decrease in cost. When combined with single-site laparoscopy, it also allows the surgeon complete control of the operative environment and may enable more surgeons to embrace the single-incision technique.