To evaluate the advantages and safety of Minilap assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with hidden incision in the treatment of benign gallbladder diseases.

Clinical data of 134 patients who underwent LC for benign gallbladder diseases in the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March 2020 to March 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval was received. Among them, 60 patients were male and 74 female, aged from 22 to 72 years, with a median age of 45 years. According to the surgical method, all patients were divided into the Minilap group (n=51) and control group (n=83). In the Minilap group, Minilap assisted LC with hidden incision was performed. In the control group, conventional 3- or 4-port LC was carried out. Perioperative conditions were observed between two groups. The time topostoperative off-bed activity and time of postoperative feeding between two groups were compared by t test.

All patients in two groups successfully completed the surgery. No perioperative complications occurred. In the Minilap group, the time to postoperative off-bed activity and time of postoperative feeding were (3.0±1.5) and (7.3±3.2) h, significantly shorter than (6.3±3.2) and (9.4±4.6) h in the control group (t=-6.966, -2.995; P<0.05). In addition, the pain score at postoperative 1 d and the score of patient satisfaction with surgical incision were 1.2±0.9 and 2.7±1.1, significantly lower than 4.4±0.7 and 4.0±0.9 in the control group (t=-22.910, -6.804; P<0.05).

Compared with conventional LC, Minilap assisted LC with hidden incision can relieve postoperative pain, accelerate postoperative recovery. Besides, it meets the cosmetic requirements of patients, and it is convenient to operate.