A randomized, prospective study comparing the use of the missile trocar and the pyramidal trocar for laparoscopy access.
BACKGROUND
The missile trocar was developed for smooth abdominal penetration of the primary port. It contains a longitudinal tunnel connecting the abdominal cavity with the outside.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of the missile trocar compared with the traditional method using the Veress needle.


METHODS
The times required to enter the abdominal cavity and the difficulty of the procedure were compared with the traditional Veress needle. A blind technique was used on 100 consecutive patients in a randomized fashion.


RESULTS
The missile trocar technique took 2.7 +/- 1.6 minutes to perform compared with 3.9 +/- 1.3 min in the Veress needle group (p = 0.001), and the difficulty of the procedure was 2.1 +/- 1.9 cm (p = 0.433) rated from 10-cm scale. No carbon dioxide leakage or serious complications occurred in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicate that a long-tip missile trocar technique may be used safely when the technique is fully understood. This procedure is a relatively quick alternative approach for laparoscopy.
Tansatit
Tanvaa
T
Department ofAnatomy, Faculty of Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Wisawasukmongchol
Wirach
W
Bunyavejchevin
Suvit
S
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013997:Time Factors