Press releases

Yale-New Haven Hospital news release
Release date: Aug. 30, 2007
Media contact: (203) 688-2488

First of its kind appendectomy performed at Yale-New Haven Hospital

NEW HAVEN – Yale-New Haven Hospital surgeon Kurt E. Roberts, M.D., performed what is believed to be the first true single-port laparoscopic appendectomy. In July Dr. Roberts removed the appendix of a 22-year-old woman using only one small incision in the navel instead of the three incisions commonly used for this procedure.

“This is exciting news because a single-port appendectomy performed with only one small incision is even less invasive than the widely performed three-port laparoscopic appendectomy which uses three incisions,” explained Dr. Roberts, “because one incision equates to even less pain and shorter recovery time for the patient than the usual three.”

During an open “traditional” appendectomy, an incision is made through the skin in the lower right abdomen before the surgeon severs the appendix from the colon and removes it.

Since early 2000 however, appendectomies have most commonly been performed laparoscopically, which involves the use of a thin telescope attached to a video camera that allows the surgeon to inspect the inside of the abdomen.

When done laparoscopically, three “ports” or surgical incisions are commonly made in a patient’s abdomen. On July 21, Dr. Roberts removed a patient’s appendix using one small incision, or port, made in the navel. He noted that after extensive research, he and his team have found no indication that this procedure has ever been done before in this specific manner. Since then, he has performed three additional appendectomies in this manner.

In recent years, the trend in abdominal surgery has been to reduce the number of incisions necessary. Nicknamed the “puppeteer technique,” Roberts’ procedure involves entering the abdomen, stretching the appendix, dissecting and removing it, all through only one 12-millimeter incision. Dr. Roberts added that this very small incision becomes nearly invisible once the wound has healed because it is hidden in the navel.

“We are very excited about what this new technique can mean for appendectomies, and potentially for other similar abdominal surgeries such as gall bladder removal and colon resection because of its tremendous medical and cosmetic benefits for the patients,” Roberts said.

Generally, approximately eight percent of the population has their appendix removed and about 500 appendectomies are performed at Yale-New Haven Hospital each year.

Dr. Roberts is a gastrointestinal surgeon at Yale-New Haven Hospital and assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine. He, along with his team, looks forward to sharing his innovative single-port laparoscopic appendectomy technique with others throughout the medical community.

To speak with Dr. Kurt Roberts in more detail about this innovative technique,please contact Mark D’Antonio (203) 688-2493

Yale-New Haven Hospital is a 944-bed, not-for-profit hospital serving as the primary teaching hospital for the Yale School of Medicine. Yale-New Haven was founded as the fourth voluntary hospital in the U.S. in 1826 and today, the hospital complex includes Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and Yale-New Haven Psychiatric Hospital, with a combined medical staff of about 2,400 university and community physicians practicing in more than 100 specialties. See www.ynhh.org for additional information.

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Last revised: Aug. 30, 2007 (dh)

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