Background Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) might maximize the advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by reducing postoperative pain and improving cosmesis. However, the safety and feasibility of SILC has not yet been established. This study assesses safety, patient reported outcome measures and feasibility of SILC versus conventional LC. Methods Literature search for RCT's comparing SILC with conventional LC in gallstone-related disease was performed in PubMed and Embase. The conventional LC was defined as two 10-mm and two 5-mm ports. Study selection was done according to predefined criteria. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias. Pooled outcomes were calculated for adverse events, pain, cosmesis, quality of life and feasibility using fixed-effect and random-effects models. Results Nine RCT's were included with total of 860 patients. No mortality was observed. More mild adverse events (RR 1.55; 95% CI 0.99-2.42) and significantly more serious adverse events (RR 3.00; 95% CI 1.05-8.58) occurred in the SILC group. Postoperative pain (MD -0.46; 95% CI -0.74 to -0.18) and cosmesis (SMD 2.38; 95% CI 1.50-3.26) showed significantly better results for the SILC group, but no differences were observed in quality of life. Operating time (MD 23.12;) and the need for additional ports (RR 11.43; were significantly higher in the SILC group. No difference was observed in conversion to open cholecystectomy or hospital stay longer than 24 h. Conclusions SILC does not provide any clear advantages over conventional LC except for less postoperative pain and improved cosmesis. It is questionable whether these advantages outweigh the higher occurrence of adverse events and shortcomings in feasibility. Considering considerable heterogeneity and low methodological quality of the studies it is advisable to perform well-designed RCT's in the future to address the safety and clinical benefits of SILC.Keywords Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Á Singleincision Á Conventional Á Safety Á Feasibility Cholecystectomy has emerged as the standard surgical treatment for gallstone-related disease [1]. Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is associated with reduced post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker convalescence compared to open cholecystectomy, it is accepted as the gold-standard surgical procedure [2]. In conventional LC, a multiport approach is applied, three or four ports are being used, usually four. Traditionally, two ports of 10 mm in size ensure the access of a camera and a clip applier. Manipulation of the gall bladder for adequate exposure of the field of surgery is accomplished with two ports of 5 mm in size [3]. Nowadays, an increasing number of groups use also different sizes of ports, for instance three 5-mm ports and one 10-mm port, using 5-mm clip appliers. Meta-analyses have already compared SILC with LC, but the evidence in these articles is limited. In some of these articles, the control group did not correspond to traditional four-port LC, but included three-port or ...

Background Downstream remodeling of the spiral arteries (SpA) decreases utero-placental resistance drastically, allowing sustained and increased blood flow to the placenta under all circumstances. We systematically evaluated available reports to visualize adaptation of spiral arteries throughout pregnancy by ultra-sonographic measurements and evaluated when this process is completed. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of spiral artery flow (pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV)) was performed. English written articles were obtained from Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library and included articles were assessed on quality and risk of bias. Weighted means of Doppler indices were calculated using a random-effects model. Results In healthy pregnancies, PI and RI decreased from 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70–0.89) and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.47–0.54) in the first trimester to 0.50 (95% CI: 0.45–0.55, p < 0.001) and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37–0.42, p < 0.001) in the second trimester and to 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44–0.53, p = 0.752) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.35–0.38, p = 0.037) in the third trimester, respectively. In parallel, PSV altered from 0.22 m/s (95% CI: 0.13–0.30 m/s) to 0.28 m/s (95% CI: 0.17–0.40 m/s, p = 0.377) and to 0.25 m/s (95% CI: 0.20–0.30 m/s, p = 0.560) in the three trimesters. In absence of second and third trimester Doppler data in complicated gestation, only a difference in PI was observed between complicated and healthy pregnancies during the first trimester (1.49 vs 0.80, p < 0.001). Although individual studies have identified differences in PI between SpA located in the central part of the placental bed versus those located at its periphery, this meta-analysis could not confirm this (p = 0.349). Conclusions This review and meta-analysis concludes that an observed decrease of SpA PI and RI from the first towards the second trimester parallels the physiological trophoblast invasion converting SpA during early gestation, a process completed in the midst of the second trimester. Higher PI was found in SpA of complicated pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies, possibly reflecting suboptimal utero-placental circulation. Longitudinal studies examining comprehensively the predictive value of spiral artery Doppler for complicated pregnancies are yet to be carried out.

Background: Downstream remodeling of the spiral arteries (SpA) decreases utero-placental resistance drastically, allowing sustained and increased blood flow to the placenta at all circumstances. We systematically evaluated available reports to visualize adaptation of spiral arteries throughout pregnancy by ultra-sonographic measurements and evaluated when this process is completed.Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of spiral artery flow (pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV)) was performed. English articles were obtained from Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library and included articles were assessed on quality and risk of bias. Weighted means of Doppler indices were calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In healthy pregnancies, PI and RI decreased from 0.75 (95% CI: 0.67-0.83) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.46-0.53) in the first trimester to 0.52 (95% CI: 0.48-0.56, p=0.003) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.38-0.42, p=0.080) in the second trimester and to 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44-0.53, p=0.510) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.35-0.37, p=0.307) in the third trimester, respectively. In parallel, PSV altered from 0.24 m/s (95% CI: 0.17-0.31 m/s) to 0.28 m/s (95% CI: 0.22-0.34 m/s, p=0.377) and to 0.25 m/s (95% CI: 0.21-0.28 m/s, p=0.919) in the three trimesters. In absence of second and third trimester Doppler data in complicated gestation, only a difference in PI was observed between complicated and healthy pregnancies during the first trimester (1.49 vs 0.76, p<0.001). Although individual studies have identified differences in PI between SpA located in the central part of the placental bed versus those located at its periphery, this meta-analysis could not confirm this (p=0.349).Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis concludes that an observed decrease of SpA PI and RI from the first towards the second trimester parallels the physiological trophoblast invasion converting SpA during early gestation, a process completed in the midst of the second trimester. Higher PI and RI were found in SpA of complicated pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies, possibly reflecting suboptimal utero-placental circulation. Longitudinal studies examining comprehensively the predictive value of spiral artery Doppler for complicated pregnancies are yet to be carried out.

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Background: Downstream remodeling of the spiral arteries (SpA) decreases utero-placental resistance drastically, allowing sustained and increased blood flow to the placenta at all circumstances. We systematically evaluated available reports to visualize adaptation of spiral arteries throughout pregnancy by ultra-sonographic measurements and evaluated when this process is completed. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of spiral artery flow (pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV)) was performed. English articles were obtained from Pubmed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library and included articles were assessed on quality and risk of bias. Weighted means of Doppler indices were calculated using a random-effects model. Results: In healthy pregnancies, PI and RI decreased from 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.89) and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.47-0.54) in the first trimester to 0.50 (95% CI: 0.45-0.55, p<0.001) and 0.39 (95% CI: 0.37-0.42, p<0.001) in the second trimester and to 0.49 (95% CI: 0.44-0.53, p=0.752) and 0.36 (95% CI: 0.35-0.38, p=0.037) in the third trimester, respectively. In parallel, PSV altered from 0.22 m/s (95% CI: 0.13-0.30 m/s) to 0.28 m/s (95% CI: 0.17-0.40 m/s, p=0.377) and to 0.25 m/s (95% CI: 0.20-0.30 m/s, p=0.560) in the three trimesters. In absence of second and third trimester Doppler data in complicated gestation, only a difference in PI was observed between complicated and healthy pregnancies during the first trimester (1.49 vs 0.80, p<0.001). Although individual studies have identified differences in PI between SpA located in the central part of the placental bed versus those located at its periphery, this meta-analysis could not confirm this (p=0.349). Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis concludes that an observed decrease of SpA PI and RI from the first towards the second trimester parallels the physiological trophoblast invasion converting SpA during early gestation, a process completed in the midst of the second trimester. Higher PI was found in SpA of complicated pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies, possibly reflecting suboptimal utero-placental circulation. Longitudinal studies examining comprehensively the predictive value of spiral artery Doppler for complicated pregnancies are yet to be carried out.