Bladed and bladeless conical trocars do not differ in terms of caused fascial defect size in a Porcine Model

INTRODUCTION: Trocar insertion during laparoscopy may lead to complications such as bleeding, bowel puncture and fascial defects with subsequent trocar site hernias. It is under discussion whether there is a difference in the extent of the trauma and thus in the size of the fascia defect between blunt and sharp trocars. But the level of evidence is low. Hence, we performed a Porcine Model. METHODS: A total of five euthanized female pigs were operated on. The average weight of the animals was 37.85 (Standard deviation SD 1.68) kg. All pigs were aged 90 ± 5 days. In alternating order five different conical 12-mm trocars (3 × bladeless, 2 × bladed) on each side 4 cm lateral of the mammary ridge were placed. One surgeon performed the insertions after conducting a pneumoperitoneum with 12 mmHg using a Verres’ needle. The trocars were removed after 60 min. Subsequently, photo imaging took place. Using the GSA Image Analyser (v3.9.6) the respective abdominal wall defect size was measured. RESULTS: The mean fascial defect size was 58.3 (SD 20.2) mm(2). Bladed and bladeless trocars did not significant differ in terms of caused fascial defect size [bladed, 56.6 (SD 20) mm(2) vs. bladeless, 59.5 (SD 20.6) mm(2), p = 0.7]. Without significance the insertion of bladeless trocars led to the largest (Kii Fios™ First entry, APPLIEDMEDICAL©, 69.3 mm(2)) and smallest defect size (VersaOne™ (COVIDIEN©, 54.1 mm(2)). CONCLUSION: Bladed and bladeless conical 12-mm trocars do not differ in terms of caused fascial defect size in the Porcine Model at hand. The occurrence of a trocar site hernia might be largely independent from trocar design.