Although laparoscopic approach is currently the choice to perform common abdominal surgeries [1] [2] [3] , its use requires creation of a pneumoperitoneum by any of the four already described techniques. That is, 1) classic closed technique with a Veres needle through the umbilicus, 2) Palmer closed technique, with a Veres needle through the left hypochondrium, 3) Hasson or open technique, which involves entering the cavity through a minilaparotomy incision, or 4) Direct technique, inserting a port through the abdominal wall without previous insufflation. Associated injuries during laparoscopic approach are particularly meaningful because of its potential to increase patient’s morbidity [4] . Although all the techniques used for the creation of the pneumoperitoneum represent a risk to injure the intra-abdominal organs, it is still discussed in the literature, which of the four is the safest [5] .

The aim of the present study is to report the incidence of laparoscopic entry associated injury in each of the four described techniques during a 12 months period, as well as the repercussions for the patient and management in a private academic hospital.

We present a retrospective, transversal, observational and descriptive study; at Hospital Español de México, from January 1 to December 31, 2013 (12 months), in which all patients of the general surgery service with laparoscopic entry associated injury history during that period of time, were included. Patients were divided according to the technique employed to create a pneumoperitoneum: 1) Classic closed technique (Veres needle), 2) Palmer closed technique, 3) Hasson or Open technique, and 4) Direct technique. Incomplete clinical histories or those where technique to create pneumoperitoneum was not specified, were excluded. Demographic variables were considered (age, gender, type and urgency of surgery) as well as the different surgical procedures used (surgical technique to create pneumoperitoneum and lesion management when appeared). “IBM-SPSS Statistics” software was used for statistical analysis of the four groups, to determine percentages, central tendency and dispersion measures as well as analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the associated complications for the approach technique.

During the evaluated period at Hospital Español de México, 871 laparoscopic surgeries were performed. Seventy-nine clinical records were excluded, since the technique to create the pneumoperitoneum was not described. Therefore, the present study just included 792 patients (see Figure 1).

Demographic analysis revealed 67% women and 33% men, with a mean age of 42 years-old (rate 16 - 94 years) and 39 years-old (rate 16 - 86 years) respectively. 40% of the surgeries were in patients within the 2^nd and 3^rd decade of life, 57% were elective surgeries and 43% of them were emergency surgeries. According to the type of surgery, 42% were cholecystectomies, 26% appendectomies, 20% diagnostic laparoscopies, 9% hernioplasties (ventral or inguinal) and 3% fundoplications. Related to the technique used to create pneumoperitoneum; 113 cases (14%) used the classic closed technique with Veres needle (Group 1), 14 cases (2%) used Palmer closed technique (Group 2), 627 cases (79%) used open Hasson technique (Group 3) and 38 cases (5%) used direct closed technique (Group 4).

From all patients treated (n = 792), just six cases reported complications when establishing pneumoperitoneum (incidence 0.76%). All of them were transoperatively detected. Among them, four happened with Hasson technique (n = 627, 0.63%), one with closed classic technique (n = 113, 0.88%) and another one with the direct technique (n = 38, 2.63%). Palmer’s closed technique revealed no complications during the pneumoperitoneum creation. Depending on type of complications, four were small bowel perforations handled with primary closure with sutures: three of them laparoscopically and one by exteriorization of the

affected segment through widening the umbilicus incision. Besides, two vascular injuries occur, both cases in the right iliac artery, which required immediate conversion to open surgery and sutured repair of perforation without graft application. No sequela was detected when patients were discharged. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of complications incidence in the four techniques to create pneumoperitoneum, resulted no statistically significant (p = 0.31).

Since 1917, when Hungarian pneumologist Jànos Veres proposed his beveled needle for thoracocentesis, risks of complications for its use were recognized. This puncture technique was later used in abdomen to obtain peritoneal fluid samples and afterwards it was adapted to insufflate the pneumoperitoneum, required for laparoscopies. In order to decrease risks, in 1918 Otto Goetz, from Germany, proposed a change to the technique by means of an automatic needle designed by himself to create the pneumoperitoneum [6] . After that in 1970, an American gynaecologist from Egypt, Harith Hasson, proposed a new technique called “open laparoscopy” by the insertion of a blunt cannula, which allowed insufflation through a 12 mm incision; done under direct visual control to reduce risks of a blind puncture. In 1974, French gynaecologist Roul Palmer, promoted alternative sites for Veres needle insertion, creating pneumoperitoneum in patients with a previous abdominal surgery, defining the left upper quadrant as the safest site for this purpose [7] . In 1978, American gynaecologist James Ray Dingfelder proposed direct insertion of the first trocar through abdominal wall, without previous insufflation of the pneumoperitoneum, arguing some advantages over previous techniques, specially, that it was easier and faster, causing less subcutaneous emphysema and with similar incidence of complications on its use [8] .

As previously mentioned, one of the most important steps in laparoscopic surgery is the access into the abdominal cavity. Several techniques have been described to create pneumoperitoneum; looking for a safest way to achieve it, as this step is one of the most dangerous in laparoscopic approach and could affect the patient, even fatally. However, no technique until now has demonstrated to be better in relation to complication incidence to create pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic surgery [9] [10] .

Complication reports in literature are very similar to the ones presented in our population (0.76%) [1] [4] [10] . Total incidence of vascular lesions was 0.13%, higher to the reported in general literature, but with 0% mortality.

Through history, the most important contributions to laparoscopic surgery have been done by gynaecologists who, presumably were the first ones to go on this field and thus, develop most of the instruments used nowadays [6] [7] [8] [9] . For this reason, most papers about laparoscopy have been done by themselves, preferring direct trocar approach arguing less complication incidence compared to the other procedures described [9] .

Our experience in complication incidence to create pneumoperitoneum was similar within the different approaches. Despite surgeon’s trend to use Veres needle (umbilical or Palmer’s point) or open approach, in the present study and in the rest of the literature, there is no significant difference supporting that direct trocar approach to abdominal cavity could increase complication risk when creating pneumoperitoneum.

Nevertheless, we should consider carefully this results as in the present trial other important variables were not analyzed like body mass index, presence or number of previous surgeries and abdominal wall hernias; these conditions are important to determine an optimal approach and provide a better patient’s safety.

The best approach for pneumoperitoneum placement should be the one we could manage and the only way to be an expert is continuous practice. Although, current literature shows similar results to the ones obtained in this trial, related to associated lesions for pneumoperitoneum creation, it is not possible to set if there is the same risk for all types of complications and approaches. Larger samples of each type of approach are required in order to show, statistically, which method is safest for pneumoperitoneum placement, thus, providing security to the patient with these kind of procedures.

Valdez-Durón, M., Fernández-Álvarez, J., González-Chávez, A.M., Vega-Romero, F.Á., Tecomahua-Román, K. and García-Ruiz, A. (2018) Comparison of the Incidence of Complications among the Different Techniques of Laparoscopic Approach: Experience in a General Surgery Service in a Private Hospital. Surgical Science, 9, 227-232. https://doi.org/10.4236/ss.2018.97027