Surgical Site Infection following Gallbladder Extraction during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy – Umbilical versus Epigastric Ports

Authors

  • Aziz Uddin Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Farooq Umer Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Taha Junaid Khan Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Uzma Shamim Seth Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Syed Junaid Humail Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Farah Batool Siddiqui Sohail Trust Hospital ,Korangi ,Karachi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36283/ziun-pjmd15-1/013

Keywords:

Laparoscopy, Cholecystectomy, Surgical Site Infection

Abstract

Background: The most effective treatment for symptomatic gallstones is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC); nevertheless, surgical site infection (SSI) is still a frequent postoperative concern. Due to variations in wound exposure and the risk of bacterial contamination, the location of gallbladder extraction—through the umbilical or epigastric port—may affect the incidence of SSI. Thus study compared the incidence of SSI after laparoscopic cholecystectomy gallbladder extraction via the umbilical versus epigastric port.

Methodology: This prospective cohort study was consisted of two groups of 80 patients (N=160) undergoing elective LC, Group A (umbilical port extraction) and Group B (epigastric port extraction). Consultant surgeons performed all procedures according to standardized aseptic and operative protocols to ensure consistency and reduce bias. The Southampton classification was used to assess postoperative wounds. SPSS version 25.0 was used in statistical analysis with p-value less than 0.05 as statistically significant.

Results: From the 160 patients, 17 (10.6%) experienced SSI development. There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.04) in the incidence between the groups with umbilical ports (12 patients, 15.0%) and epigastric ports (5 patients, 6.3%). Group A and Group B experienced mean postoperative hospital stays of 1.8 ± 0.6 and 1.6 ± 0.5 days, respectively (p = 0.13).

Conclusion: Gallbladder extraction using the umbilical port is associated with a significantly increased risk of surgical site infection. After a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using epigastric port extraction may lessen postoperative wound complications.

Author Biographies

  • Aziz Uddin, Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan


    Department of Surgery

  • Muhammad Farooq Umer, Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan


    Department of Surgery

  • Muhammad Taha Junaid Khan, Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan


    Department of Surgery

  • Uzma Shamim Seth, Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan


    Department of Surgery


  • Syed Junaid Humail, Jinnah Medical & Dental College/Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan


    Department of Surgery

  • Farah Batool Siddiqui, Sohail Trust Hospital ,Korangi ,Karachi Pakistan


    Department of General Surgery

References

1. Acar T, Kamer E, Acar N, Atahan K, Bağ H, Hacıyanlı M, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis: comparison of results between early and late cholecystectomy. Pan Afr Med J. 2017 Jan 31;26:49. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2017.26.49.8359.

2. Doluweera D, Silva O, Seneviratne SL, De Zoysa I. Safety of Simultaneous Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Systematic Review. J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A. 2025 Jan;35(1):22-30. doi: 10.1089/lap.2024.0287.

3. Bourgeois C, Oyaert L, Van de Velde M, Pogatzki-Zahn E, Freys SM, Sauter AR, et al. Pain management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review and procedure-specific postoperative pain management (PROSPECT) recommendations. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2024 Nov 1;41(11):841-855. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0000000000002047.

4. Shrestha BB, Lakhe G, Ghimire P. Postoperative Pain after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in a Tertiary Care Center: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2024 Jul 31;62(276):502-506. doi: 10.31729/jnma.8719.

5. van Bodegraven EA, Oosterwijk PC, van Aalten SM, Schaafsma BE, Smeenk RM. Higher incidence of trocar site hernia with gallbladder extraction via umbilical versus epigastric trocar port: a multicentre retrospective analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2025 May 8;410(1):155. doi: 10.1007/s00423-025-03721-9.

6. Rudiman R, Hanafi RV, Wijaya A. Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus conventional multi-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. F1000Res. 2024 Nov 18;11:754. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.122102.2.

7. Gin E, Lowen D, Tacey M, Hodgson R. Reduced Laparoscopic Intra-abdominal Pressure During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy and Its Effect on Post-operative Pain: a Double-Blinded Randomised Control Trial. J Gastrointest Surg. 2021 Nov;25(11):2806-2813. doi: 10.1007/s11605-021-04919-0.

8. Kulkarni AA, Sharma G, Deo KB, Jain T. Umbilical port versus epigastric port for gallbladder extraction in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis. Surgeon. 2022 Jun;20(3):e26-e35. doi: 10.1016/j.surge.2021.02.009.

9. Lin H, Zhang J, Li X, Li Y, Su S. Comparative outcomes of single-incision laparoscopic, mini-laparoscopic, four-port laparoscopic, three-port laparoscopic, and single-incision robotic cholecystectomy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Updates Surg. 2023 Jan;75(1):41-51. doi: 10.1007/s13304-022-01387-2.

10. Bhardwaj R, Agrawal U, Vashist P, Manna S. Determination of sample size for various study designs in medical research: A practical primer. J Family Med Prim Care. 2024 Jul;13(7):2555-2561. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1675_23.

11. Jain A, Tajudeen M, Sreekanth A, Raj Kumar N. Comparison of Postoperative Port-Site Pain After Gallbladder Retrieval From Epigastric Versus Umbilical Port in Patients of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Symptomatic Cholelithiasis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus. 2021 Sep 18;13(9):e18087. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18087.

12. Snehaa K, Rafi N, Sanjeev H, Mustaqim S, Patil N, Kumar A, et al. Surgical Site Infections: Prospective Study in a Medical College Teaching Hospital at Port Blair, India. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2025 Apr-Jun;15(2):171-175. doi: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_9_24.

13. Rehman HU, Siddiqa M, Munam AU, Khan S. Frequency of port site wound infection after Gall Bladder removal with or without retrieval bag in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. J Pak Med Assoc. 2020 Sep;70(9):1533-1537. doi: 10.5455/JPMA.300311.

14. Pipal DK, Prakash R, Kalwan P, Sudha S, Pipal VR, Yadav S. Port Site Infection in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Prospective Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in India. Ann Afr Med. 2025 Jun 30. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_33_25.

15. Yang JD, Yu HC. Prospective Control Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Infection Rate. Yonsei Med J. 2021 Feb;62(2):172-176. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2021.62.2.172.

16. Yang J, Gong S, Lu T, Tian H, Jing W, Liu Y, et al. Reduction of risk of infection during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy using prophylactic antibiotics: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Surg Endosc. 2021 Dec;35(12):6397-6412. doi: 10.1007/s00464-021-08658-w.

17. Raj A, Singh S, Raj A, Tajdar Y. A Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Postoperative Port Site Infections Among Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Either via Umbilical or Epigastric Port. Cureus. 2023 Nov 12;15(11):e48709. doi: 10.7759/cureus.48709.

18. Anand A, Jha AK, Kumar M, Kumar S, Kumar P. Port Site Morbidities Following the Extraction of the Gallbladder from the Umbilical Port in Comparison to the Epigastric Port in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial. Cureus. 2023 Sep 22;15(9):e45770. doi: 10.7759/cureus.45770.

19. Sood S, Imsirovic A, Sains P, Singh KK, Sajid MS. Epigastric port retrieval of the gallbladder following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with the reduced risk of port site infection and port site incisional hernia: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2020 May 25;55:244-251. doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2020.05.017.

20. Seif M, Mourad M, Elkeleny MR, Wael M. Safe access to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with previous periumbilical incsions: new approach to avoid entry related bowel injury. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2025 Jan 30;410(1):57. doi: 10.1007/s00423-025-03624-9.

21. Nofal MN, Yousef AJ, Hamdan FF, Oudat AH. Characteristics of Trocar Site Hernia after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 18;10(1):2868. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-59721-w.

22. Lund S, Mirande M, Mitchell C, Zheng C, Rajput S, Loomis E, et al. Mind the gap: pre-operative diastasis recti increases trocar site hernia risk after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Hernia. 2025 Mar 12;29(1):114. doi: 10.1007/s10029-025-03302-1.

23. Masaod RE, Salih MA. Prevalence and risk factors of post-cholecystectomy surgical site infections. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Sep 15;85(11):5428-5432. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001337.

24. Fisher AT, Bessoff KE, Khan RI, Touponse GC, Yu MMK, Patil AA, Choi J, Stave CD, Forrester JD. Evidence-based surgery for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Open Sci. 2022 Aug 18;10:116-134. doi: 10.1016/j.sopen.2022.08.003.

25. Pattanshetti Vishwanath M, Shankar Mihir, Metgud Shrishail C. Retrieval of Gallbladder through Umbilical versus Epigastric Port-site during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A 1-year Randomized Controlled Trial. J Sci Soc. 2025 Jan–Mar. 52(1): 25-29. doi: 10.4103/jss.jss_397_24.

Downloads

Published

2026-01-14

Metrics

How to Cite

1.
Uddin A, Umer MF, Khan MTJ, Seth US, Humail SJ, Siddiqui FB. Surgical Site Infection following Gallbladder Extraction during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy – Umbilical versus Epigastric Ports. PJMD [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 14 [cited 2026 Jun. 8];15(1). Available from: https://ojs.zu.edu.pk/pjmd/article/view/4382

Similar Articles

11-20 of 242

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.