The patient is placed supine on the operating table on a bean bag. After induction of general anesthesia and insertion of an orogastric tube and a Foley catheter, the legs are placed in yellow fin stirrups. The arms are tucked at the patient’s side and the bean bag is aspirated. The abdomen is prepared with antiseptic solution and draped routinely (Chapter 2).

The primary monitor is placed on the left side of the patient at approximately the level of the hip. The secondary monitor is placed on the right side of the patient at the same level and is primarily for the assistant during the early phase of the operation and port insertion (see Fig. 20.1). The operating nurse’s instrument table is placed between the patient’s legs. There should be sufficient space to allow the operator to move from either side of the patient to between the patient’s legs if necessary. The primary operating surgeon stands on the right side of the patient with the assistant standing on the patient’s left, and moving to the right side, caudad to the surgeon once ports have been inserted. A 0-degree camera lens is used.

This is performed using a modified Hasson approach (Chapter 3). A vertical 1-cm subumbilical incision is made. This is deepened down to the linea alba, which is then grasped on each side of the midline using Kocher clamps. Cautery is used to open the fascia between the Kocher clamps and Kelly forceps are used to open the peritoneum bluntly. It is important to keep this opening small (<1-cm) to minimize air leaks. Having confirmed entry into the peritoneal cavity, a purse string of 0 polyglycolic acid is sutured around the subumbilical fascial defect (umbilical port site) and a Rommel tourniquet is applied. A 10-mm reusable port is inserted through this port site allowing the abdomen to be insufflated with CO₂ to a pressure of 12 mmHg.

The primary operating surgeon stands on the right side of the patient with the assistant standing on the patient’s left. The camera is inserted into the abdomen and an initial laparoscopy is performed carefully evaluating the liver, small bowel, and peritoneal surfaces. A 12-mm port is inserted in the right lower quadrant approximately 6 to 8 cm medial and superior to the anterior superior iliac spine. In patients marked for a temporary ileostomy, the port is placed through this site, paying careful laparoscopic attention to the position of the inferior epigastric vessels to avoid injury. A 5-mm port is then inserted in the right upper quadrant at least a hand’s breadth superior to the lower quadrant port. A 5-mm left lower quadrant (LLQ) port is inserted. A 5-mm left upper quadrant port is rarely required to aid splenic flexure mobilization in very obese patients, or if there has been prior surgery in the area. The left-sided ports are kept lateral to the epigastric vessels (Fig. 20.2).

The assistant moves to the right side of the patient, caudad to the surgeon, once ports have been inserted. The patient is rotated with the left side up and right side down, to approximately 15 to 20 degrees tilt, and often as far as the table can go. This helps to move the small bowel over to the right side of the abdomen. The patient is then placed in the Trendelenburg position. This again helps gravitational migration of the small bowel away from the operative field. The surgeon then inserts two atraumatic bowel clamps through the two right-sided abdominal ports. The greater omentum is reflected over the transverse colon so that it comes to lie on the stomach. If there is no space in the upper part of the abdomen, one must confirm that the orogastric tube is adequately decompressing the stomach of gas. The small bowel is moved to the patient’s right side, allowing visualization of the medial aspect of the rectosigmoid mesentery, and also
placed up under the transverse mesocolon to give room to see the inferior mesenteric vessels (Fig. 20.3). This may necessitate the use of the assistant’s 5-mm atraumatic bowel clamp through the LLQ in order to tent the sigmoid mesentery cephalad.