Single port/incision laparoscopic surgery compared with standard three-port laparoscopic surgery for appendicectomy : a randomized controlled trial

Acknowledgments The authors thank John Norrie for advice regarding the reporting of the study, and clinical staff in the Department of General Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, for helping with the conduct of the study. This work was supported by a Grant from the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) of the Scottish Government Health Directorates (Grant Number reference CZG/2/498). Jonathan A. Cook held a Medical Research Council, UK, training fellowship (G0601938) while this research was undertaken. The Health Services Research Unit is funded by the CSO of the Scottish Government Health Directorates. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and may not necessarily be shared by the funding bodies. The study was overseen by an Advisory Group comprising Professor Marion Campbell (Director, Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen), Professor John Norrie (CHaRT Director) and Professor Craig Ramsay (Health Care Assessment Programme Director, Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen). Professor W. Alastair Chambers was the independent chair of the Trial Steering Committee. Contributing surgeons to the SCARLESS study (in alphabetical order): Bassam Alkari, Emad Aly, Norman Binnie, Duff Bruce, Jan Jansen, Peter King, Tim MacAdam, Aileen McKinley, Terry O’Kelly, Ken Park, Abdul Qadir. The National Health Service provided support through the contribution of the following research nurses: Anu Joyson, Hazel Forbes, and Julie Shotton.Peer reviewedPublisher PD