title: Abdominal access in gynaecological laparoscopy: a comparison between direct optical and blind closed access by Verres needle.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Complications associated with initial abdominal entry are a prime concern for laparoscopic surgeons. In order to minimize first access-related complications in laparoscopy, several techniques and technologies have been introduced in the past years. This investigation compares two laparoscopic access techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  194 women underwent laparoscopic surgery for simple ovarian cysts: 93 were assigned to direct optical access (DOA) abdominal entry (group I), and 101 women to classical closed method by Verres needle, pneumoperitoneum and trocar entry (group II). The following parameters were compared: time required for entry into abdomen, occurrence of vascular and/or bowel injury, blood loss. The results were analyzed using SAS software. p-value<0.05 was considered as significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant differences were observed in the occurrence of blood loss and minor vascular injury between the two techniques, as well as minor bowel injuries; time for of abdominal entry, instead, were significantly reduced in the DOA group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the preliminary comparison between the DOA and the Verres methods, commonly used by gynecologists, suggests that the visual entry system confers a statistical advantage over closed entry technique with Verres needle, in terms of time saving and due to the minor vascular and bowel injuries, thus enabling a safe and expeditious, visually-guided, entry for surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vito Fazzi Hospital, Lecce, Italy. andreatinelli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinelli
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malvasi
authors.forename: Olav
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Istre
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keckstein
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: Liselotte
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mettler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult