A modified umbilical incision for specimen extraction after laparoscopic abdominal surgery

Background: One advantage of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery is the absence of laparotomic incisions. This advantage is reduced when an auxiliary incision is performed to remove surgical specimens larger than the trocar. Methods: A special incision was performed at umbilical trocar level that enabled removal of a large surgical specimen as in right hemicolectomy (colic), gastric resection, and splenic surgery. Results: The authors have used this method routinely for 10 years for all cases requiring removal of a surgical specimen too large for the normal incision of a 10-mm trocar. Conclusion: The authors maintain that this method avoids the use of auxiliary incisions, which undo the many benefits of laparoscopic surgery. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.