Quick and effective technique for specimen extraction during video-assisted thoracic surgery

The 'folded' glove-finger in minimally-invasive surgery: easy, quick and cheap specimen retrieval

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery often require extraction of surgical specimens. The use of standard retrieval bag can be expensive, especially in case of multiple specimens during the same operation. We describe the use of a folded glove-finger as cheap alternative and easily reproducible means of specimen extraction.

METHODS

The medium finger of a glove, cut at its base, was used to locate several types of specimens. The edge of the glove was folded to allow an easier insertion and retrieval of the specimens.

RESULTS

With this technique in the last 5 years we have retrieved hundreds of different types of specimens (including omentum, lymph nodes, appendix, peritoneal or pleural biopsies) during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures. All the retrieval fingers were safely pulled outside and were intact when extracted through the ports with no fragmentation of the specimens.

CONCLUSIONS

We suggest that a folded glove-finger can be used as an easy, quick and cheap strategy for specimen extraction during laparoscopic and thoracoscopic surgery.

A useful technique for specimen extraction from the thorax: the vacuum-packing method

Most thoracic surgeons have encountered a number of situations in which a specimen was too large to fit through a small intercostal incision. This report highlights a useful technique for specimen extraction from the thorax using a vinyl bag and a sucker. The sucker creates negative pressure, and the liquid and air components from the specimen are removed. The specimen can be deflated and removed from the thoracic cavity through the access incision. We call this method the 'vacuum-packing method'.