title: A new vaginal extractor for laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: We developed a new instrument specifically designed to facilitate the removal of large tissue masses through a vaginal incision during laparoscopic surgery without any loss of gas. It consists of a cannula fitted with a ball-shaped head at one end. After laparoscopic culpotomy, tissue is seized with a grasping forceps introduced vaginally through the cannula. To prevent dissemination and to facilitate passage through the incision, tissue masses may be placed in a tied plastic pouch prior to extraction. The entire procedure is safe because of continual endoscopic control. It was performed in 57 women to extract cysts, tubal pregnancies, adnexa, myomas, and ovaries. It took an average of 10 minutes, and no intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. Preliminary experience suggests that this technique is safe, fast, inexpensive, and easy to perform under continuous endoscopic control.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Coelio-Chirurgie, Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Avenue Pierre Decker, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Spuhler
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Sauthier
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Chardonnens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Grandi
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina