Method for safe Verres needle entry at the umbilicus, with modification for first trocar entry to reduce the complication rate of first entry

BACKGROUND: Initial intraperitoneal access and first trocar entry are responsible for nearly half of all complications of laparoscopic surgery. The purpose of this article is to detail our method of initial intraperitoneal access with Veress needle and first trocar at the umbilicus used over the past 28 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 1990, a single surgeon performed laparoscopic surgery in 7600 patients. From 1992 onward, 6975 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. On assessment, 739 cases (10.6%) were found unsuitable for Veress needle entry at the umbilicus. The remaining, 6236, patients form the study group for this article. Every patient was operated in the identical, repetitive manner. Every detail was considered important. The method of the first trocar entry is modified to minimise complications of this manoeuvre. RESULTS: The average time from cleaning umbilicus again to Veress needle tip in peritoneum was 1 min 40 s (25 s–7 min). Out of the 4228 patients in whom no adhesions were observed at first trocar entry (Group 1), the Veress needle insertion was successful at first attempt in 3829 (90.5%) patients, at second attempt in 322 (7.6%) and at third attempt in 30 (0.7%). In the 2008 patients with significant adhesions observed after first trocar entry (Group 2), successful insertion of the Veress needle was achieved at first attempt in 1700 (84.6%) patients, at second attempt in 182 (9%) and at third attempt in 19 (0.9%). In this group, there was one bowel injury (0.05%) and 3 (0.15%) minor vascular injuries. There was no mortality in either group. In the overall series, the Veress needle was successfully introduced in 6082 of the 6236 patients (97.5%) and 154 patients (2.4%) failed Veress needle entry. The incidence of bowel injury in the series was 0.016% and that of minor vascular injuries was 0.048%. CONCLUSIONS: Initial intraperitoneal access must be performed with utmost caution after adequate training and proctorship. This paper stresses with meticulous attention to every detail, this safe, method of initial intraperitoneal access leads to low complication rates.