The Effect of Transvaginal vs. Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on the Postoperative Course
The Effect of Transvaginal vs. Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on the Postoperative Course
Uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy will in most patients result in moderate to severe
 pain until the first postoperative day. This will subside during the second and third
 postoperative day [1]. A feeling of low general well-being will also be present until the
 first postoperative day and subside during the next couple of days [2].

 To achieve faster recovery after laparoscopic interventions it has been shown that a
 reduction in the size of laparoscopic ports and thereby incisions can reduce postoperative
 pain [3,4].

 A new minimal invasive surgical technique is based on the principle of completely eliminating
 the use of ports through the abdominal wall. This new technique is called Natural Orifice
 Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) and is defined by acquiring minimal invasive access
 to the abdominal cavity through the body's natural openings like the mouth and stomach, anus,
 urethra and vagina. With the NOTES technique one can completely avoid incisions in the
 abdominal wall and thereby reduce the surgical trauma. The benefits of this technique is a
 reduction of postoperative pain, elimination of incisional hernias, prevention of wound
 infections, reduction of peritoneal adherence formation, achieving a faster recovery and a
 better cosmetic result [7,8].

 The most documented and well-described way for gaining NOTES access to the abdominal cavity
 is through the vagina, transvaginal (TV). TV NOTES has mainly been used for cholecystectomy
 because of the direct line of vision to the upper abdomen and gallbladder that is achieved
 through this opening.

 Compilation of results show that TV NOTES cholecystectomy can be implemented with low
 complication rates [20-22]. One retrospective case-control and one prospective observational
 study report less postoperative pain, reduced consumption of analgesics and faster recovery
 for TV NOTES compared to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy [23,24]. To date there are
 no systematic prospective randomized data on whether or not TV NOTES cholecystectomy leads to
 a better surgical outcome.

 In the present study the postoperative course after TV NOTES cholecystectomy will be compared
 to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a prospective randomized and blinded trial. The outcome of
 the randomization between the two surgical techniques will be blinded to patient and the
 nurse staff for the first 72 hours after the operation. The primary outcome parameter will be
 postoperative pain score during the first 24 hours. Secondary outcome parameters are
 postoperative pain score for the first 72 hours, fatigue, well-being, nausea, consumption of
 analgesics, complications, cosmetic result and sexual function.

 The hypothesis being that TV NOTES cholecystectomy gives less postoperative pain, fatigue and
 nausea, a reduction in analgesics and a better cosmetic result and general well-being than
 conventional 4 port laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
BACKGROUND:

 Uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy will in most patients result in moderate to severe
 pain up until the first postoperative day. This will subside during the second and third
 postoperative day [1]. A feeling of low general well-being will also be present up until the
 first postoperative day and subside during the next couple of days [2].

 To achieve faster recovery after laparoscopic interventions it has been shown that a
 reduction in the size of laparoscopic ports and thereby incisions can reduce postoperative
 pain [3,4]. Whether a further reduction of postoperative pain can be achieved by limiting the
 number of laparoscopic ports through the abdominal wall to a single one with Single Incision
 Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) remains to be determined [5,6].

 A new minimal invasive surgical technique is based on the principle of completely eliminating
 the use of ports through the abdominal wall. This new technique is called Natural Orifice
 Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) and is defined by acquiring minimal invasive access
 to the abdominal cavity through the body's natural openings like the mouth and stomach, anus,
 urethra and vagina. With the NOTES technique one can completely avoid incisions in the
 abdominal wall and thereby further reduce the surgical trauma. The benefits of this technique
 is a reduction of postoperative pain, elimination of incisional hernias, prevention of wound
 infections, reduction of peritoneal adherence formation, achieving a faster recovery and a
 better cosmetic result [7,8].

 The most documented and well-described way for gaining NOTES access to the abdominal cavity
 is through the vagina, transvaginal (TV). There are several reasons for this. First of all
 the technique for gaining TV access to the abdominal cavity is already being used in
 gynaecology, where culdoscopy was first described in the literature nearly 100 years ago [9].
 A diagnostic procedure for infertility that can be used in an outpatient setting [10-12].
 Similarly, transvaginal ports have been used in gynaecology as a substitute for abdominal
 ports [13,14]. Thus there is already a well proven and established technique for obtaining
 transvaginal access to the abdominal cavity. Secondly it is easy to ensure a secure surgical
 closure of the point of entry under direct visualization with basic suturing instruments. And
 lastly the risk of contamination and infection is minimal when performing TV procedures [15].

 TV NOTES has mainly been used for cholecystectomy because of the direct line of vision to the
 upper abdomen including the liver and gallbladder that is achieved through this body opening.
 For the same reason it is possible to use the same surgical dissection technique and rigid
 instruments that is used when performing conventional laparoscopic or SILS cholecystectomies.

 Questionnaire surveys have shown that there is a general interest for TV NOTES in the public,
 where between 33-68 % of women surveyed preferred TV NOTES to conventional laparoscopy
 [16-18].

 In a German national database called German NOTES Registry (GNR) more than 900 transvaginal
 procedures have been registered. Compilation of results from the GNR and other human series
 and multicenter trials have shown that TV NOTES cholecystectomy can be implemented with low
 complication rates [19-21]. One retrospective case-control and one prospective observational
 study report less postoperative pain, reduced consumption of analgesics and faster recovery
 for TV NOTES cholecystectomy compared to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy [22,23].
 To date there are no systematic prospective randomized data on whether or not TV NOTES
 cholecystectomy leads to a better surgical outcome in regards to pain, well-being etc. than
 conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

 STUDY AIM:

 The aim of the study is in a prospective randomized blinded design to compare the
 postoperative course and outcome of TV NOTES and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

 HYPOTHESIS:

 TV NOTES cholecystectomy gives less postoperative pain, fatigue and nausea, reduces analgesic
 consumption and gives a better cosmetic result and well-being than conventional 4 port
 laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

 TRIAL PARTICIPANTS:

 Trial participants will be recruited among women between 40-75 years referred to laparoscopic
 cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallstones or gallstone induced mild pancreatitis and
 ultrasonography confirmed gallstones.

 METHOD:

 Statistics:

 The primary outcome measure "cumulated pain score during mobilisation for the first 72
 postoperative hours" has been used for power calculation. In a previous study the mean for
 this parameter measured on the visual analogue scale (VAS) for laparoscopic cholecystectomy
 have been found to be 143 mm (standard deviation 95,7 mm) [2]. Since the pain sensation after
 laparoscopic cholecystectomy is somatic in origin a MERIDIF of 60% (86mm) have been chosen.
 Type I and type II errors have been set to 0,05 and 0,20 respectively. This gives a total
 number of 42 participants with 21 in allocated to either group. To account for potential
 dropouts and the lack of Gaussian distribution for VAS data there will be included a total of
 60 participants with 30 allocated to either group.

 Non-parametric statistics with Fisher´s exact test, Mann-Whitney test and confidence
 intervals will be used where appropriate. P < 0,05 will be considered statistical
 significant. Drop-outs will be replaced by new participants until a minimum of 30
 participants have been included in either group. Data will be analysed with intention-to
 treat and per-protocol and the results of both methods will be published.

 In the TV NOTES group the use of at least one 5mm trans-abdominal port will be considered as
 a conversion to conventional laparoscopic surgery and will analysed as such. The use of one
 Minilap instrument in the TV NOTES group will not be considered as a conversion to
 laparoscopy and the participant will remain in the TV NOTES group for both the
 intention-to-treat and the per-protocol analyses. Participants with severe intra-operative
 complications will be excluded from the analyses but will be described separately in the
 publication.

 Randomization:

 Participants will be randomized to either TV NOTES cholecystectomy or conventional
 laparoscopic 4 port cholecystectomy. The randomization will be performed shortly before the
 operation commences using the envelope method by the operating surgeon. All procedures will
 be performed by the same surgeon at University Hospital Gentofte/Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 Blinding:

 The trial is patient and observer blinded to the allocation of the randomization for the
 first 72 hours of the postoperative course. Operating room staff and surgeons will not
 participate in any way in the follow-up for the first 72 postoperative hours.

 Participants in both groups will receive the same surgical dressing on the abdomen after the
 procedure. Both groups will thus be bandaged as if after a conventional 4 port laparoscopic
 cholecystectomy with a total of 4 dressing strips. In the TV NOTES group these dressings will
 be stained red to simulate light seepage from the "wound". These dressings are obligatory for
 the first 72 postoperative hours.

 Informed consent:

 The participants will receive oral and written information about the trial, its purpose and
 potential benefits and risks. Participants will be informed that it is voluntary to
 participate at that they at any time can withdraw their consent to participate in the trial
 without it having any implications on present or future treatment. Written consent to
 participate in the trial will be obtained before enrolment. National guidelines from the
 Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics concerning informed content will be
 followed.

 Any information or medical considerations concerning the individual participant obtained as
 part of the trial will be accessible to the participant.

 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

 TV NOTES cholecystectomy are based on well-established surgical techniques such as
 laparoscopy/SILS and culdotomy. Complication types and rates for TV NOTES cholecystectomy are
 well described in the literature and are comparable to that of conventional laparoscopic
 cholecystectomy. Considering the advantages and theoretical benefits this new technique has
 to offer combined with the preliminary retrospective and non-randomized results we find it
 ethical to conduct a randomized controlled blinded trial where the benefits of TV NOTES
 cholecystectomy outweighs the potential risks involved.

 LAW AND APPROVAL:

 The trial will be carried out according to the Helsinki Declaration II and under the Acts of
 the Danish Council of Ethics and information concerning the participants will be protected in
 accordance to the regulations set by the Danish Protection Agency. The trial will be approved
 by the Danish National Committee on Biomedical Research Ethics, the Danish Protection Agency
 and ClinicalTrials.gov before it is commenced.

 FUNDING:

 This trial is part of a PhD-study initiated by the trial investigators. Salaries are funded
 through grants obtained from the University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital Research Council,
 Capitol Region of Denmark Research Foundation for Health Research and private foundations.
 Operating costs are founded through grants from private foundations. There are no commercial
 interests in or financial support for the project.

 PUBLICATION:

 After the trial have been completed both positive and negative result will be published in an
 internationally recognised scientific journal. The primary investigator in this trial will be
 first-author and the co-investigators co-authors according to the Vancouver Group criteria
 (www.icmje.org).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Booked for cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallstones or gallstone induced mild
 pancreatitis.

 -  Woman.

 -  Between 18 - 70 years old.

 -  ASA classification I, II or III.

 -  BMI < 30 kg/m2.

 -  Written informed consent.

 All of the inclusion criteria must be met before inclusion in the study.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Expected poor compliance.

 -  Previous cholecystitis or moderate to severe pancreatitis.

 -  Culdotomy contraindicated.

 -  Previous laparoscopic surgery or open surgery on vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes or
 ovaries. Except laparoscopic sterilisation.

 -  Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

 -  Daily consumption of any analgesic for one month prior to surgery or intermittent use
 of opioids.

 -  Ongoing treatment with Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic antidepressants.

 -  Known with any type of inflammatory bowel disease.

 -  Known with chronic diseases that are known to cause pain sensations.