Use of a ring retractor to facilitate specimen removal in laparoscopic surgery

OBJECTIVE: To introduce a new surgical technique for specimen removal during laparoscopic surgery. METHODS: The surgical technique was described, pictured, and recorded. The surgery was performed in a tertiary hospital. RESULTS: During laparoscopic surgery, the specimen is resected from the surrounding tissues and contained in a specimen bag to prevent spillage. The edges of the bag are then pulled through the trocar site, and the specimen—protected by the bag—is removed. To facilitate the removal process and to prevent spillage, assistants will normally hold the edges of the bag during the process. To mitigate the need for assistants to hold the edges of the bag, we wrapped the pulled edges of the bag around a ring retractor, which is a plastic ring, to straighten the bag. This technique enabled the operator to remove the specimen without needing an assistant. CONCLUSION: The technique we describe here, using a ring retractor for specimen removal, is useful when assistants are unavailable to help during laparoscopic surgery.