Homemade specimen retrieval bag for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A solution in the time of fiscal crisis.
BACKGROUND
Due to the current economic crisis in Greece, major cutbacks on healthcare costs have been imposed, resulting in a shortage of surgical supplies, including laparoscopic materials. In an attempt to reduce costs, we developed a homemade specimen retrieval bag for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


METHODS
We used the polyethylene bag containing the catheter of a Redon drainage set. The bag was cut in half and pleated longitudinally; then, the gallbladder was placed in the bag and removed through the umbilicus with a grasping forceps.


CONCLUSIONS
From September 2011 to June 2012, we used our homemade bag on 85 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No rupture, accidental opening, or bile leak was observed. The learning curve was found to be five cases. Our homemade specimen retrieval bag seems to be a safe, effective, and easy tool for tissue extraction. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate its full potential.
Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
George
G
Stavrou
Kyriakos
K
Fotiadis
Dimitrios
D
Panagiotou
Afroditi
A
Faitatzidou
Katerina
K
Kotzampassi
D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D057172:Economic Recession; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D014472:Umbilicus / Q000601:surgery
Homemade; laparoscopy; specimen retrieval