Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for colorectal cancer: a narrative review

Abstract

: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for colorectal cancer is a procedure that requires only a small incision in the umbilicus to complete, which has been performed worldwide since it was first reported in 2008. SILS is thought to have benefits with respect to cosmetics and pain, and has recently been reported to contribute to a lower risk of developing delirium. This technique has not spread sufficiently at present because of the complexity of the procedure and the lack of confirmation of oncological safety. However, the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that have been conducted on SILS have concluded that SILS has no disadvantages over conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS), and the other some retrospective studies revealed the long-term oncological safety of SILS in colorectal cancer patients. Surgeons’ concerns about SILS will be alleviated if the procedure is further standardized to reduce the complexity of the surgery and if the long-term safety of SILS as a cancer surgery is confirmed by high-quality RCTs. In addition, the development of various surgical robots has been remarkable in recent years, and they continue to evolve day by day. SILS is likely to benefit from the evolution of surgical robotics, and with it, SILS is expected to gain renewed attention and become a more common surgical procedure.