The use of optical trocars in abdominal entry among patients with obesity - A case series

INTRODUCTION: Bariatric and metabolic procedures are becoming more common worldwide and laparoscopic surgery is the primary method to perform these operations. Accessing the peritoneum remains a challenge in obese patients and this study aims to assess the safety of optical trocars in bariatric surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on all patients that have undergone bariatric surgery in our center between the years of 2017–2019 to examine the method by which pneumoperitoneum was established. We studied the incidence and type of complications associated with creating pneumoperitoneum in obese patients, along with the rates of converting to an open procedure. RESULTS: A total of 821 patients underwent bariatric surgery in our center over the 3 year period. They had an average age of 34.2 years (range = 13–65) with an average BMI of 45.9 kg/m(2). Optical trocars successfully established pneumoperitoneum in all these patients. Complications attributed to optical trocar entry were encountered in 8 patients (0.97%), 3 males and 5 females. The average BMI of these 8 patients is 52.7 kg/m(2), 4 of which had a BMI >50 kg/m(2). The complications encountered included 3 liver lacerations, 4 mesenteric injuries and 1 omental vessel laceration. Four injuries were caused by 12 mm optical trocars while the other 4 injuries were caused by 5 mm optical trocars. These complications were managed laparoscopically and no patients had to be converted to a laparotomy. CONCLUSION: The use of non-bladed, optical trocar entry into the abdomen can be considered a safe method in the establishment of pneumoperitoneum in patients with obesity. However, more studies are required randomizing the use of optical trocars to the open Hasson technique in order to further validate this method.