Tri-Radial Port Extension for Difficult Gallbladder Extraction

Overview

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common operation for gallbladder stones. In some patients, the removed gallbladder is difficult to extract through the umbilical port because it is large, thick-walled, or packed with stones. Surgeons commonly enlarge the fascial opening either vertically or horizontally to remove the specimen. These extensions may cause bleeding, tissue trauma, pain, and possible port-site complications. This study compares three methods of enlarging the umbilical fascial opening during difficult gallbladder extraction: vertical fascial extension, horizontal fascial extension, and a new tri-radial fascial micro-incision technique called Tareq's Port Extension (TPE). In TPE, three small radial cuts are made around the fascial opening to create a controlled expansion and facilitate extraction. The study aims to determine whether TPE reduces extraction difficulty, extraction-site bleeding, extraction time, postoperative pain, and port-site complications compared with conventional vertical and horizontal fascial extension techniques. Patients will also be followed for 12 months to assess port-site hernia.

This is a prospective, randomized, three-arm interventional study conducted at BNS PATENGA Hospital, Bangladesh Navy. The study evaluates a tri-radial fascial micro-incision technique for difficult gallbladder extraction during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is usually removed through a 10 mm umbilical port. In some cases, extraction becomes difficult because of a large gallbladder, thick gallbladder wall, large stone, or multiple packed stones. When the gallbladder cannot pass smoothly through the port, surgeons often enlarge the fascial opening. Conventional methods include vertical or horizontal fascial extension. However, these techniques may be associated with bleeding, irregular tissue tearing, increased pain, and port-site complications. The intervention being studied is the Tri-Radial Fascial Micro-Incision Technique, also designated as Tareq's Port Extension (TPE). In this technique, instead of extending the fascial opening in one linear direction, three small radial micro-incisions are made around the existing umbilical fascial defect. These small cuts are placed approximately at the 12, 4, and 8 o'clock positions and are kept within the linea alba. The purpose is to create a controlled cloverleaf-shaped expansion of the fascial opening, allowing easier gallbladder extraction while minimizing tissue trauma. Participants with intraoperatively confirmed difficult gallbladder extraction are randomized into one of three groups: Vertical fascial extension Horizontal fascial extension Tri-radial fascial micro-incision technique / Tareq's Port Extension The primary outcomes are extraction time and extraction-site bleeding severity, categorized as minimal, moderate, or profuse. Secondary outcomes include fascial extension length, postoperative pain score, analgesic requirement, port-site infection, hematoma, seroma, clip dislodgement, and port-site hernia at 12 months. The study is designed to assess whether TPE provides a safer, faster, and more controlled method of gallbladder extraction compared with conventional fascial extension techniques. The technique does not require any special device or additional costly equipment and may be useful in routine laparoscopic surgical practice, especially in settings where commercial specimen retrieval systems are not consistently available or reliable.