Optical access trocar injuries in urological laparoscopic surgery

Comparison of Optical Trocar Access Versus Veress Needle Insertion Technique for Peritoneal Entry in Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy

BACKGROUND

Nearly half of all complications in laparoscopic surgery occur at the intraperitoneal access. We compared direct optical entry (DOE) with Veress needle entry (VNE) in terms of abdominal entry time and entry-associated complications in patients who underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN).

METHODS

Between June 2010 and July 2023, data from 813 patients who underwent LDN were analyzed. Age, male-to-female ratio, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, body mass index, operation side, previous abdominal surgery, abdominal entry technique, abdominal entry time, entry-associated complications, conversion to different abdominal entry techniques, and conversion to open surgery were evaluated.

RESULTS

DOE and VNE were performed on 433 and 281 patients, respectively. Age (48.89 ± 12.11 vs 47.59 ± 11.34 years), male-to-female ratio (44.8% vs 40.9% males and 55.2% vs 59.1% females), ASA score (2 vs 2 median ASA score), body mass index (26.72 ± 6.11 vs 27.07 ± 5.83 kg/m2), and operation side (63.0% vs 61.3% left nephrectomy) were not statistically significant differences between the DOE and VNE groups (P > .05). However, abdominal entry time was significantly reduced in the DOE group compared with the VNE group (26.8 ± 20.8 vs 49.5 ± 34.1 seconds, P = .007, respectively). Entry-associated complications were observed in 8 (1.12%) patients. No major (grades 3-5) complications were observed. There were no statistically significant differences in overall (0.6% vs 1.7%, P = .291), grade 1, and grade 2 complication rates between the DOE and VNE groups (0.4% vs 1.4%, P = .366; 0.2% vs 0.3%, P = .714, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

DOE and VNE are not foolproof. DOE is a safe, feasible, and faster technique in patients who underwent LDN.

Learning curve of optical trocar access during laparoscopic pelvic surgery: A prospective study

INTRODUCTION

The optical trocar access (OTA) is a modified closed technique that aims to minimize the risk of vascular or bowel injuries while reducing the likelihood of gas leakage. A learning curve (LC) effect for OTA has been invoked with n = 30 procedures being considered as a threshold to define expertise. We aim to evaluate the impact of the LC within the first thirty cases of OTA performed by a trainee.

METHODS

This is a prospective randomized study on 60 patients elected to laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Patients were randomized to have OTA insertion by a junior surgeon or by an expert. LC was evaluated by: 1) insertion time; number of: 2) corrections by the senior; 3) times the tip of the trocar stopped in the preperitoneal layer; 4) mistakes of skin incision; 5) times the tip of the trocar ends under the omentum; 6) complications. To analyze the LC within the first 30 cases, procedures were stratified in 3 groups (cases 1-10; 11-20; 21-30) for both trainee and expert and LC variables were compared.

RESULTS

Overall, mean OTA insertion time was 56 s. No major intra- and post-operative complications were recorded. Mean insertion time was statistically significantly longer for the trainee compared to the expert within the first 10 cases (91 vs 33 s respectively, P = .01). For cases 11-20 and 21-30, time advantage of the senior surgeon is less evident (P = .05). The number of times the tip of the trocar stopped in the preperitoneal layer was similar between groups, as well as times the tip of the trocar ends under the omentum.

CONCLUSIONS

OTA is a fast and simple way to achieve the pneumoperitoneum and first trocar insertion as a single step. The current series confirms the effectiveness of the technique since the beginning of the LC.

From "feeling" to "seeing": modification of the percutaneous peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion with an optical puncture system

PURPOSE

Blind insertion limits the application of percutaneous peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter placement. In this study, we first described the use of an optical puncture system in the PD catheter insertion, and investigated the feasibility and advantages of this modified technique.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 65 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5) who received ultrasound-guided percutaneous PD catheter insertion with or without optical puncture system assistance between June 2018 and July 2019. The patients' characteristics as well as the surgical outcomes and complications were compared between the modified group and the routine percutaneous insertion group.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients underwent optical puncture system assistant insertion, whereas 40 patients received routine percutaneous insertion. More patients had previous abdominal surgical histories in the modified group than those in the routine group (24.0% vs. 5.0%, p = 0.047). The time of accessing to the abdominal cavity was significantly shorter in the modified group (median [IQR]; 1.1 min [0.8-1.3] vs. 5.0 min [4.0-6.0]; p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the time of the whole procedure was also significantly shorter in the modified group (median [IQR]; 26.0 min [25.0-29.0] vs. 33.0 min [29.0-35.0]; p < 0.001). None of the patient in the modified group, while two patients (5.0%) in the routine group converted to open procedure. There were no significant differences in the short and long postoperative complications between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The operation of ultrasound-guided PD catheter placement with the optical puncture system is easy, safe, fast and accurate, whereby the PD catheter can be implanted percutaneously and visually under local anesthesia with minimal procedure-related complications. The visible puncture of the optical puncture system may facilitate ultrasound-guided percutaneous PD catheter insertion in patients with obesity and previous abdominal surgeries.

A Modified Open Primary Laparoscopic Surgery Port Placement through Umbilical Tube

Background:

A safe, reliable technique for primary trocar introduction is important for laparoscopic surgery. In resource-constrained settings where there is paucity of needed equipment and cost is prohibitive, a method utilizing fewer instruments will be useful.

Aim:

This study aims to describe a method of primary trocar introduction that utilizes any available port.

Methods:

A supra- or infra-umbilical incision is made into an everted tubular umbilicus. The linear alba is incised and the resultant opening bluntly developed, after which any available port is inserted using the trocar as a guide. The trocar is withdrawn while the sleeve is pushed in.

Results:

One hundred and three successful insertions were affected in 107 patients with age range of 1–75 years, with no significant gas leaks.

Conclusion:

This modified open approach is a simple and reliable way of primary port insertion. Access is gained easily in different age groups and umbilicus types.

Staging laparoscopy and Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) for peritoneal metastasis: safe access to the abdomen

BACKGROUND

Pressurized IntraPeritoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) is an innovative drug delivery technique. Most common indication is palliative therapy of peritoneal metastasis of gastrointestinal and gynecological origin in the salvage situation. Access to the abdomen is the critical step of the procedure, since most patients had previous surgery. Potential pitfalls include non-access because of adhesions, bowel access lesions and postoperative subcutaneous toxic emphysema.

METHODS

We propose a technique, the "finger-access technique" that might prevent largely these pitfalls. A minilaparotomy of 3 cm is performed in the midline, a finger introduced into the abdomen and a 5-mm double-balloon trocar (no Hasson trocar) is placed under finger protection at some distance of the first incision. The fascia of the minilaparotomy, not the skin, is then closed. The abdomen is insufflated with CO2 and tightness is controlled with saline solution in the minilaparotomy. A second 10-12 mm trocar is then introduced under videoscopic control. The first trocar is then visualized through the second one to exclude a bowel lesion during first access.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

In our hands, this access technique has shown to be safe and effective.

Optical trocar access for initial trocar placement in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery: A propensity score-matching analysis

INTRODUCTION

Optical trocar access is a technique to place the initial trocar in laparoscopic surgery. With optical trocar access, each tissue layer can be visualized before insertion, which can help prevent organ injury, and air leaks at the trocar site can be minimized even in obese patients. The aim of this study was to compare the time needed for trocar insertion using optical trocar access and an open method in patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

We reviewed our prospectively collected database and identified 384 patients who underwent laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery involving initial trocar insertion near the umbilicus by either the optical trocar access or the open method. Before the two methods were compared, propensity score matching was used to adjust for essential variables between the optical trocar access and open groups.

RESULTS

Patients categorized in the optical trocar access and open groups were matched one-to-one by propensity score matching, and 137 pairs of patients were generated. The time needed for trocar insertion was significantly shorter in the optical trocar access group than in the open group (36.6 vs 209.8 s, P < 0.01). The multivariable analysis identified an inexperienced surgeon as the only independent risk factor for prolonged time for initial trocar insertion using the optical trocar access.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that optical trocar access may be recommended for inserting the initial trocar in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery.

Comparison of two methods of laparoscopic trocar insertion (Hasson and Visiport) in terms of speed and complication in urologic surgery

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, diverse approaches have been existed for laparoscopic procedures. The most common laparoscopic entry methods included close and direct entry laparoscopy and open (Hasson) laparoscopy. There is no evidence regarding the superiority in safety and initial speed for the use of open and optical laparoscopic entry. Therefore, the sight of current study was to evaluate comparative survey of two methods of laparoscopic trocar insertion (Hasson and VisiportTM) in terms of speed and complications in urologic surgery.

METHODS

This expertized base clinical trial study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent urological laparoscopy in Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. These patients were randomly divided to two groups (n = 50). One group underwent open laparoscopy and another group Visiport optical trocar. Speed and Complications of urologic surgery was extracted from medical records. Independent T test was used for doing of analysis.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients in Hasson and Visiport laparoscopic group was 41.4 ± 11.2 and 41.6 ± 15 years old, respectively (p = 0.91). The mean time for initial trocar placement in patients who underwent Visiport trocar system and Hasson laparoscopic technique was 37.7 ± 15.59 and 95.4 ± 31.75 seconds. There was gratifying difference between two techniques of laparoscopic trocar insertion (Hasson and Visiport) in terms of speed (p = 0.000). In addition, complications were observed in 8% of patients who underwent Visiport trocar system. However, no complications were observed in Hasson laparoscopy group.

CONCLUSION

Visiport optical trocar technique is faster for initial trocar placement than open laparoscopy. However it is associated with complications compared to open laparoscopy. Therefore, there is evidence of benefit in terms of speed for initial trocar placement and harm based on complications in Visiport trocar system.

Laparoscopic access overview: Is there a safest entry method?

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique to access the abdominal cavity, for diagnostic or therapeutic applications. Optimizing the access technique is an important step for laparoscopic procedures. The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of different laparoscopic access techniques and to identify the safest one.

METHODS

Laparoscopic access questionnaire was forwarded via e-mail to the 60 centers who are partners in working group for laparoscopic and robotic surgery of the Italian Urological Society (SIU) and their American and European reference centers.

RESULTS

The response rate was 68.33%. The total number of procedures considered was 65.636. 61.5% of surgeons use Veress needle to create pneumoperitoneum. Blind trocar technique is the most commonly used, but has the greatest number of complications. Optical trocar technique seems to be the safest, but it's the less commonly used. The 28,2% of surgeons adopt open Hasson's technique. Total intra-operative complications rate was 3.3%. Open conversion rate was 0.33%, transfusion rate was 1.13%, and total post-operative complication rate was 2.53%.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic access is a safe technique with low complication rate. Most of complications can be managed conservatively or laparoscopically. The choice of access technique can affect the rate and type of complications and should be planned according to surgeon experience, safety of each technique and patient characteristics. All access types have perioperative complications. According with our study, optical trocar technique seems to be the safest.

Modern paradigm for peritoneal catheter insertion: single port optical access laparoscopic shunt insertion

BACKGROUND

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures. Typically, for insertion of the peritoneal catheter, a mini-laparotomy technique is used. Although generally safe, it can be cosmetically undesirable and time consuming. Complications include malpositioning, bowel injury, and delayed hernias. Laparoscopic techniques have been advocated to address these issues, but have been slow to gain traction with neurosurgeons.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our experience with single port optical access laparoscopy for placement of ventriculoperitoneal shunts. Our technique simplifies adoption of a laparoscopic technique for neurosurgeons looking to incorporate its benefits.

METHODS

All ventriculoperitoneal shunts placed by the senior author since April 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Surgical and perioperative complications, length of postoperative stay, and need for revisions were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fifty-six patients were included in the study. There were no cases of peritoneal catheter misplacement. One intraoperative complication occurred early in the series, in which there was an injury to the gallbladder necessitating cholecystectomy. There were 7 cases followed by shunt revision inclusive of the abdomen. In 3 cases, pseudocysts were noted.

CONCLUSION

Single port optical access laparoscopy is a fast and minimally invasive technique that allows direct visualization of the layers of the abdominal wall as they are traversed and visualization of the peritoneal catheter during placement. It uses a small cosmetic incision and obviates the need for postoperative abdominal radiographic studies. The procedure has a modest learning curve, but can be safely used without the assistance of an assist surgeon after the skills are acquired.

Comparison between closed and open techniques for creating a retroperitoneal space for retroperitoneoscopic renal surgery in children

AIM

During retroperitoneoscopic renal surgery (RPRS), the open technique (OT) for trocar insertion is always associated with CO2 leakage around the first trocar, while the closed technique (CT) involves advancing an optical trocar into the retroperitoneal space (RS) under direct vision. We are the first to compare OT with CT.

METHODS

Forty-one cases of RPRS performed for pyeloplasty (31), hemi-nephrectomy (4), nephrectomy (4), stone removal (1), and cyst excision (1) were studied. The initial 5 mm trocar was inserted using OT (n = 11) or CT (n = 30). The tip of a telescope was used for blunt dissection of the retroperitoneum to create the RS.

RESULTS

Ages and weights at RPRS were similar (OT versus CT: 7.3 versus 7.1 years; 25.4 versus 25.0 kg; respectively). In CT, RS access was significantly faster (38.2 versus 5.6 min), RS was created significantly quicker (77.7 versus 31.9 min), and narcotic usage was significantly less (4.0 versus 1.5 days). In OT, CO2 leaked in 11/11 and the retroperitoneum was torn in 3/11. In CT there was no leakage and no tearing.

CONCLUSIONS

CT is quicker and safer than OT during RPRS.

The all-seeing needle instead of the Veress needle in pediatric urologic laparoscopy

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of the all-seeing needle for safe entry and creation of pneumoperitoneum in pediatric urologic laparoscopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 14 children underwent various transperitoneal urologic laparoscopic procedures. The all-seeing needle, which is 4.85F in diameter, was used for safe entry into the abdominal cavity at the site of the umblicus in all cases. The microoptic was integrated with the light system and connected via a zoom ocular enabling direct visualization of the layers between the skin and the peritoneal cavity. Once the intraperitoneal access was obtained, CO2 pneumoperitoneum was created from one port of the three-way connector attached to the proximal part of the needle. Then the laparoscopic trocars were placed under vision of the microoptical system.

RESULTS

Mean age of the children was 4.5 ± 2.9 years. In all children, the all-seeing needle was safely introduced into the abdominal cavity under direct vision. Then, CO2 pneumoperitoneum was succesfully performed. The mean time for optical puncture was calculated as 1.1 ± 0.8 minutes. No complication was encountered during the introduction of the needle, creation of the pneumoperitoneum, and placement of the trocars.

CONCLUSIONS

The all-seeing needle appears to be beneficial in safe entry and for creating pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic pediatric urology cases. It eliminates the disadvantages of the Veress needle, which is blunt insertion, and may possibly prevent complications.

Malpractice claims and avoidance of complications in endoscopic surgery

Laparoscopy has become a valuable tool for the gynaecologist in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of gynecological disorders. Its quicker recovery time and other advantages has benefitted countless women. Laparoscopic procedures, however, have their own associated risks and complications, and the surgeon must become thoroughly familiar with these. This awareness will help reduce patient morbidity and mortality, and potentially avoid the stress and burden of litigation, which has been increasing in recent years. Complications of gynaecologic laparoscopy include entry-related problems, and injuries to bowel, urinary tract, blood vessels, and nerves. Although some of these complications have been well described, some have emerged recently in relation to new technology and techniques. In this chapter, we discuss some of the complications of endoscopic surgery, including their incidence, prevention, and medico-legal implications, and provide a brief overview of their management.

Techniques for transgastric access to the peritoneal cavity

Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is a unique emerging surgical concept expanding flexible endoscopy beyond the gut wall. The methods and technology growing from this concept may minimize trauma from surgical access to the peritoneal cavity by completely eliminating body surface incisions. So far, NOTES surgeries have been reported by modifying laparoscopic surgery. The peroral transgastric route was chosen to access the peritoneal cavity in initial trials because of a potentially lower risk for surrounding organ injury using the anterior wall percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy-style gastrotomy. This article reviews and describes techniques of transgastric access to the peritoneal cavity used in published animal studies.

Safety of the Veress needle in pediatric laparoscopy

PURPOSE

To better establish the complication rate with the Veress needle technique for establishing a pneumoperitoneum in pediatric laparoscopy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed all pediatric laparoscopy cases performed by a single surgeon from 1996 to 2003. There were 257 patients ranging in age from 4 months to 19 years. Infraumbilical placement of the Veress needle was used to create a pneumoperitoneum. All instances of preperitoneal insufflation, vessel/viscus injury, and forced conversion to open surgery were recorded. The length of time required to establish pneumoperitoneum was reported in the last 139 patients.

RESULTS

The average length of time required to gain access to the peritoneum was <2 minutes. Of these procedures, 138 were performed for nonpalpable undescended testicles, 101 for varicoceles, 13 for duplication anomalies, and 5 for intersex disorders. There were 18 cases (7.0%) of preperitoneal insufflation. No cases resulted in vessel/visceral injury, conversion to open surgery, conversion to use of the Hassan trocar technique, or inability to complete the procedure because of complications in establishing a pneumoperitoneum. In all cases of preperitoneal insufflation, proper access was achieved by pulling the needle out and reinserting it at a different angle, with pneumoperitoneum being achieved easily in each case.

CONCLUSION

The use of the Veress needle to establish pneumoperitoneum in children of all ages is safe, fast, and efficacious.

Laparoscopic renal surgery for benign disease

Fifteen years after the first report, laparoscopic nephrectomy has demonstrated proven efficacy and safety comparable with an open approach, with a significant advantage of a faster recovery. Wide dissemination of these surgical techniques and continued improvement in instrumentation has made laparoscopy the preferred approach for treating benign pathologic conditions of the kidney. In this review, the expanding indications of laparoscopic simple nephrectomy and the outcomes of the larger clinical series are examined. We discuss the technical aspects of both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Finally, laparoscopic cyst decortication and some of the novel applications of laparoscopic renal surgery are highlighted.

An open access technique to create pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgery

BACKGROUND

An open access technique might reduce severe vascular and visceral injuries. An open access technique through the umbilical cicatrix tube has been developed as a routine method with the goal to be easy, safe and used by all surgeons in patients without a previous midline incision.

AIM

To evaluate the open technique in a prospective study in 100 consecutive laparoscopic operations regarding time for entrance, surgeons experience and BMI of the patients.

METHODS

A midline incision from the linea alba up into the inverted umbilicus was performed in the cicatrix tube and the peritoneum was penetrated allowing air to flow into the abdominal cavity followed by a blunt trocar insertion.

RESULTS

Time for access was median 93 seconds. Entrance time in patients with BMI >30 (n=18) was 100 sec and with BMI <30 it was 90 sec (p = 0.71). The median time for consultants was 88 sec and for residents 120 sec (p = 0.003). No gas leakage was seen. Prolonged time for access was seen in three patients; two equipment failures and one obese patent.

CONCLUSION

The open access technique is applicable in all patients without a former midline incision. It is fast, easy to learn with very few associated problems.

Experience with the optical access trocar for safe and rapid entry in the performance of laparoscopic gastric bypass

BACKGROUND

In laparoscopic surgery, serious complications caused by the blind insertion of trocars are well known. The open technique is compromised by the leakage of carbon dioxide and can also be time consuming, especially in morbidly obese patients. Our aim was to determine whether the optical access trocar can be used to establish a safe and rapid entry during laparoscopic gastric bypass.

METHODS

The data on a single surgeon's experience with 370 laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures during a 4-year period were reviewed. The Optiview trocar was used for all except the initial 21 patients. The entry time for the optical trocar was measured in 10 patients.

RESULTS

Of the 370 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass from November 2000 to September 2004, the initial 21 were treated using the standard Veress needle to create the pneumoperitoneum. The next 22 were treated using the Veress needle to create the pneumoperitoneum, followed by insertion of the optical access trocar in the left upper quadrant as the initial trocar. From this point to the present, the optical access trocar has been inserted without the use of a Veress needle. There have been no trocar-related bowel or vascular injuries in the entire series. The mean optical trocar insertion time was 28 +/- 1.2 s.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first laparoscopic gastric bypass series to report the results of its experience with the optical access trocar. This device provides a safe and rapid technique for placement of the initial trocar for laparoscopic gastric bypass. Insertion of the optical trocar with a 10-mm laparoscope into the left upper quadrant is our procedure of choice for obtaining the pneumoperitoneum in this patient population.

Prevention and management of complications in urological laparoscopic port site placement

OBJECTIVES

To review complications associated with urological laparoscopic port-site placement and outline techniques for their prevention and management.

METHODS

Review of the literature using Medline.

RESULTS

Laparoscopy now plays a key role in urological surgery. Its applications are expanding with experience and evolving data confirming equivalent long-term outcome. Although significant port-site complications are uncommon, their occurrence impacts significantly on perioperative morbidity and rate of recovery. The incidence of such complications is inversely related to surgeon experience. Ports now utilise bladeless tips to reduce the incidence of vascular and visceral injuries, and subsequently port-site herniation. Metastases occurring at the port site are preventable by adhering to certain measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Whether performing standard or robot-assisted laparoscopy, port-site creation and maintenance is critical in ensuring minimal invasiveness in laparoscopic urological surgery. Although patient factors can be optimised perioperatively and port design continues to improve, it is clear that adequate training is central in the prevention, early recognition, and treatment of complications related to laparoscopic access.

Optical-Access Visual Obturator Trocar Entry into Desufflated Abdomen During Laparoscopy: Assessment After 96 Cases

BACKGROUND

The introduction of optical-access laparoscopic trocars was met with enthusiasm and the impression that these devices provide safer access with decreased complication rates. However, serious complications have been reported.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our first 96 consecutive cases (17 radical prostatectomies, 2 sacrocolpopexies, 6 adrenalectomies, and 71 renal procedures), performed between October 2001 and April 2003, of optical-access laparoscopic trocar placement as initial entry into the desufflated abdomen. After creating a 12-mm periumbilical or lateral-rectus incision, the 12-mm Endopath Bladeless visual obturator trocar (Ethicon Endosurgery, Cincinnati, OH) was inserted into the peritoneum while carefully observing the separation of the layers of fascia, muscle, and peritoneum.

RESULTS

There were no vascular injuries. However, we observed 2 (2.1%) large-bowel injuries: a seromuscular injury and a through-and-through enterotomy of the mid-descending colon. In both cases, the visual obturator was placed lateral to the left rectus muscle, and the large colon was noted to be adherent to the anterior abdominal wall. The bowel injuries were repaired in two layers (running 3-0 Vicryl for the mucosa and 3-0 silk for the seromuscular layer). The operations were completed without open conversion and with uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct placement of an optical-access visual obturator trocar into the desufflated abdomen carries the potential for significant injury. Our current practice is to place the visual trocar after Veress-needle peritoneal insufflation.

Safe entry techniques during laparoscopy: Left upper quadrant entry using the ninth intercostal space—A review of 918 procedures

Surgeons performing sophisticated endoscopic operations must be well versed in alternate laparoscopic access methods to address evolving patient expectations and safety requirements. The safety of left upper quadrant laparoscopic entry in patients with prior surgeries and abdominal adhesions was evaluated. Laparoscopic surgery was performed for various indications on patients with prior surgical scars and anticipated risk of adhesions at the primary umbilical port site. All laparoscopies performed from July 1998 through June 2004 were analyzed. Of the 918 laparoscopies, 504 patients (54.9%) were found to have involvement of their umbilicus with adhesions that could have affected the traditional umbilical primary port entry. Left ninth intercostal space was used for Veres needle entry, and the primary trocar was placed in the left upper quadrant space. Of the 504 potentially risky entries, there were two (0.39%) Veres-needle related and zero trocar-related injuries. All surgical procedures were accomplished laparoscopically, and all entries were accomplished by the left upper quadrant entry technique. Therefore left upper quadrant entry technique is a safe and easily learned alternate access technique.

Taking the side of transperitoneal access for surgery in upper urinary tract

Laparoscopic surgery has become a preferred treatment option for the management of upper urinary tract pathology. Large series of complex urologic operations have been published, with favorable outcomes. Although the early experience with urologic laparoscopy consisted almost exclusively of transperitoneal procedures, some surgeons prefer the retroperitoneal approach. The debate of retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal laparoscopy for upper tract pathology is complex because comparative and randomized studies are lacking. In contrast to the retroperitoneal approach, transperitoneal laparoscopic procedures allow for a larger working space, adequate maneuverability, and the presence of familiar anatomic landmarks. This article highlights our experiences and approaches to major laparoscopic upper urinary tract surgery for benign and malignant conditions. A summary of the published literature as it pertains to the transperitoneal approach also is presented.