4. Trocar placement
Although a sigmoidectomy is possible with only 3 trocars, in complicated cases and especially when the surgeon’s experience is limited, more trocars are recommended. This improves safety, exposure of the operative field, and mobilization of the splenic flexure.
We prefer to use 6 trocars, with a trend toward reducing the size of trocars. The patient’s body habitus, previous surgical history, and the initial laparoscopic exploration via the supraumbilical trocar help in guiding the introduction of the various operating trocars.
Firm fixation of trocars to the abdominal wall can limit the risk of tumor seeding (Balli et al., 2000). Increased trocar stability also facilitates the procedure, and is achieved by adapting the size of the incision to the trocar, either by fixing the trocar to the skin with a suture or by using orthostatic trocars.
Trocar A: 12 mm optical trocar
This first trocar is positioned on the median line above the umbilicus or 20 cm above the pubis in short patients.
This trocar accommodates a 0° optical.
• Operating
Trocar B is a 5 mm trocar situated on the right midclavicular line, at the level of the umbilicus. It is used as an operating trocar during the dissection of the rectum and sigmoid colon and during the mobilization of the splenic flexure (caudal retraction of the left colon).
This trocar accommodates an atraumatic grasper.
Trocar C is a 5 mm trocar situated on the right midclavicular line, 8 to 10 cm inferior to trocar B. It is used as an operating trocar during the dissection of the rectosigmoid. It is used as a retracting trocar during the mobilization of the splenic flexure (caudal retraction of the left colon).
At the end of the procedure, it can be replaced by a 12 mm or 15 mm trocar for the introduction of a linear stapler.
This trocar accommodates:
- scissors (monopolar, ultrasonic dissector, clip, staplers), bipolar hook, surgical loop, suction-irrigation device;
- an atraumatic grasper.
• Retractors
Trocar D is a 5 mm trocar situated on the left midclavicular line, at the level of the umbilicus. It is used as a retracting trocar except during the mobilization of the splenic flexure, when it becomes an operating trocar.
This trocar accommodates:
- an atraumatic grasper;
- scissors (monopolar, ultrasonic dissector, vessel sealing device, clip, staplers), bipolar hook, surgical loop, suction-irrigation device.
Trocar E is a 5 mm trocar situated 8 to 10 cm above the pubic bone on the median line. It is used as a retractor except during the division of the lower rectum when it can be replaced by a 12 mm or 15 mm trocar to introduce a linear stapler. A grasper is passed through it. It is used to expose the sigmoid mesocolon and the left mesocolon. A flexible retractor is passed through trocar E during the anterior dissection of the rectum.
This trocar accommodates a grasper, a suction-irrigation device, a stapler, and a flexible retractor.
Trocar F is a 5 mm retracting trocar situated on the right midclavicular line below the costal margin. An atraumatic grasper is passed through it. It is used to retract the terminal portion of the small intestine laterally and to better expose the attachments of the omentum to the transverse colon during mobilization of the splenic flexure.
This trocar accommodates an atraumatic grasper. |