Transumbilical versus periumbilical incision for laparoscopic surgery: A meta-analysis

Background: Whether a transumbilical or periumbilical incision is beneficial for the initial peritoneal access in laparoscopic abdominal surgery has been debated. Our aim is to determine whether a transumbilical or periumbilical incision is a better route for the initial umbilical trocar. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles published before March 2020. The meta-analysis calculated the pooled effect size by using a random effects model. Results: Five trials involving 783 patients were reviewed. The transumbilical group significantly reduced operation time (mean difference: −7.73; 95% confidence interval: −13.10 to −2.35) when compared to the periumbilical group. The length of hospital stay, mean pain scores on operation day and postoperation day 1 did not differ significantly between the two groups. Moreover, the incidence of surgical site infection, cosmetic satisfaction, and complication rate did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: A transumbilical incision is better than a periumbilical incision for laparoscopic surgery as it saves operation time. Hence, we suggest transumbilical incisions for the initial peritoneal access in laparoscopic abdominal surgery.