Laparoscopic Port Closure

Formation of a post-operative trocar site hernia (TSH) is a serious complication of laparoscopic surgery with an incidence of 1.5%-1.8%, and may necessitate emergent surgical correction in the case of bowel strangulation. Many contributing factors increase the risk of this complication, and various surgical devices have been developed to help prevent post-operative TSH formation. Bladeless trocars with radially expanding technology have been shown to decrease the incidence of post-operative TSH. Various port site closure devices are also available on the market, which assist in closing the fascia, thus decreasing the risk of this complication. In this article, we will review the use of these devices and their potential to reduce post-operative TSH formation.