A new balloon dissector for totally extraperitoeneal hernia repair

BACKGROUND: Balloon dissectors (BD) find their use in totally extraperitoneal (TEP) and retroperitoneoscopic procedures. Commercial BD is prohibitively expensive. The author uses an indigenously assembled BD and describes the same. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The author assembles the BD by tying glove-fingers on an NG tube and then tying this assembly in the concavity of a Kelly's clamp, premounted with peanut gauze (KC-BD). RESULTS: The author has used it in the last 75 cases of TEP. A large working space is created, without any iatrogenic injuries or balloon rupture. This cheap indigenous BD can be assembled easily and in no time at all. CONCLUSIONS: KC-BD offers several advantages because of its unique design. It is effective, totally nontraumatic, inexpensive, and easy to assemble.