Surgical Techniques in Situs Inversus Totalis
Summary
Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital condition in which all thoraco-abdominal organs are arranged as a mirror image of typical anatomy. Surgical intervention in SIT requires meticulous preoperative planning to accommodate reversed vasculature and organ orientation. Three-dimensional imaging modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography are routinely employed to map anomalies and guide surgical strategy. Minimally invasive approaches have progressed from conventional multiport laparoscopy to single-incision and single-port techniques, each adapted through customised port placement and ergonomic considerations of surgeon handedness. Robotic-assisted platforms further mitigate the challenges of mirror-image disorientation by preserving standard console orientation and instrument articulation. Across hepatobiliary, colorectal and gastric procedures, careful integration of advanced imaging, bespoke simulation training and intraoperative navigation has maintained morbidity and conversion rates comparable to those in anatomically normal cases, affirming the feasibility of complex resections in SIT patients.
Research from Nature Portfolio
No recent Nature Portfolio content available.
Surgical Techniques in Situs Inversus Totalis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in surgical techniques in situs inversus totalis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Situs inversus totalis (SIT): A congenital anomaly in which thoracic and abdominal viscera are arranged in a complete mirror image of normal anatomy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Minimally invasive removal of the gallbladder using small abdominal incisions and video guidance.
Port placement: Strategic positioning of trocars to facilitate optimal instrument angles and visualization in minimally invasive surgery.
Robotic-assisted surgery: Surgical technique where the surgeon operates robotic arms from a console, enhancing dexterity and three-dimensional vision.
Mesocolic excision: Oncological procedure involving removal of a colon segment along with its intact mesentery for comprehensive lymph node clearance.
References
- Look beyond the Mirror: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Situs Inversus Totalis—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (and Report of New Technique). Diagnostics (2022).
- Laparoscopic sigmoidectomy in a case of sigmoid colon cancer with situs inversus totalis. Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery (2018).
- Robotic-assisted proximal gastrectomy using the double-flap technique for early gastric cancer with situs inversus totalis: a case report. Surgical Case Reports (2021).
About these summaries
This Nature Research Intelligence Topic summary is created with the cited references and a large language model. We take care to ground generated text with facts, and have systems in place to gain human feedback on the overall quality of the process in line with our AI principles. We strive to create accurate and useful summaries for people unfamiliar with the research topic and that supports this goal. These pages are a beta release and will be updated as we learn how best to help people gain value from a research topic summary.
Turn complex research questions into confident strategic decisions
When you're under pressure to set direction, justify investment, or understand your competitive position, you need more than raw data — you need trusted insights you can act on.
Benchmark your performance against global peers using robust, methodologically sound analysis.
Combine quantitative metrics with qualitative expert insight to uncover strengths, gaps and emerging opportunities.
Gain tailored, decision-ready recommendations aligned to your strategic priorities.
Talk to us to learn more about our data dashboards and bespoke strategy reports.
Grow research skills, confidence and careers with training built for every stage of the research lifecycle.
Developed with Nature Portfolio journal Editors and internationally renowned experts. Discover three ways to learn:
Self-paced, online courses in convenient bite-sized units, covering key skills across scientific writing, publishing, grant writing, data analysis, and more.
Expert trainer-led workshops with hands-on exercises and real-time feedback across core research skills, delivered via interactive group sessions.
Editor-led workshops combining core principles in writing and publishing, personalised 1:1 feedback from Nature Portfolio Editors and hands-on exercises.
Explore course catalogues and workshop agendas, enquire about the options or request institutional pricing.