Complications of Veress Needle Versus Open Technique in Abdominal Surgeries

Abstract

Introduction

In any laparoscopic procedure, the first and most important step is abdominal entry. This is followed by the creation of pneumoperitoneum, which is essential for lifting the abdominal wall off of the internal organs and visualizing the entered space. However, the entry and establishment of pneumoperitoneum are not without risks and complications, the most serious of which include vascular injuries and bowel perforations in all the different techniques used. The most commonly used techniques for abdominal entry are the closed (Veress) and open (Hasson) techniques, the choice of which varies according to the surgeon`s preference and other regional and local factors.

Aim

To compare the outcomes between the open technique and the Veress needle for accessing the peritoneum during laparoscopic surgery.

Methodology

This was a retrospective cohort study that aimed to compare the outcomes between the Veress needle and the open technique for entering the peritoneum in laparoscopic surgeries. A chart review was used as an instrument to collect data. The study was conducted in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients who underwent abdominal laparoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2016 were included.

Results

We analyzed 365 patients who underwent laparoscopic abdominal surgery. The mean age of the patients was 32.6 years. The most common postoperative complication occurring during the admission period was abdominal pain (40.5%). Postoperative complications during admission were significantly associated with the type of needle used (χ2=10.641; p=0.001).

Conclusion

The type of technique used for entry and peritoneal access was associated with the occurrence of postoperative complications in abdominal surgeries. Thus, the choice of open or Veress technique for peritoneal access should be individualized based on factors such as patient sex, clinical diagnosis, and most importantly, the surgeons` experience and preference.

Introduction

Laparoscopy was first performed in humans in 1910 by Jacobeus in Sweden [1]. In the last few decades, laparoscopy has evolved considerably and is now a commonly preferred procedure in many surgical specialties because of its advantages over traditional laparotomy [2]. Although laparoscopy has many advantages over laparotomy, it is not devoid of complications, most of which are associated with the entry into the surgical site [2,3-5]. In any laparoscopic procedure, the first and most important step is entry. Entry is followed by establishing a working space, usually through the creation of pneumoperitoneum, which is essential to lift the abdominal wall off of the internal organs and visualize the entered space, thus providing surgeons greater freedom to manipulate laparoscopic instruments under more direct vision [3]. However, entering and establishing pneumoperitoneum is not without risks and complications, the most serious of which include vascular injuries (0-0.2%) and bowel perforations (0.1-0.2%) in all the techniques used [3,6]. A major impediment toward patient recovery is the late recognition of such injuries, especially bowel perforations (30-50%), as they are usually discovered post-op when they present with peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses, which significantly increase the morbidity and mortality of patients (0.003%) [3,6]. Other complications include urologic injury, hepatic injury, and carbon dioxide embolism (0.001%) [2]. Many different techniques, methods, and instruments have been described in the literature in an attempt to reduce or eliminate these complications; however, none has been proven to be universally effective to date [2,7].

Many techniques and aids have been used and studied with regard to the entry step in laparoscopic procedures. These include open (Hasson), closed (Veress), direct trocar insertion, disposable shielded trocars, radially expanding trocars, and visual entry systems [3]. Among these, the most used techniques are closed (Veress) and open (Hasson), the choice of which varies according to the surgeon`s preference and other regional and local factors [2]. Interestingly, Janos Veress from Hungary developed the Veress needle in 1938 for the induction of pneumothorax, and not for laparoscopic usage [8]. Veress use was first popularized in France in 1947 [9] and is now the most widely used technique, especially for gynecological surgeries [1,2]. In 1971, Hasson described the open technique for the first time as a way of avoiding a few of the complications associated with the Veress technique [10].

The complication rates vary according to the entry method and device used, and accordingly, their reported incidence varies widely in the literature [3]. Some studies, such as this example by Bonjer et al., report a higher rate of complications with closed laparoscopy: [the rates of visceral and vascular injury were respectively 0.08% and 0.07% after closed laparoscopy, and 0.05% and 0% after open laparoscopy" [11]. On the other hand, the Swiss Association for Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery stated in their study that [the open-access method used in the current series failed to show any superiority over the closed establishment of pneumoperitoneum." Other studies such as those by Molloy et al. identified the surgical specialty as the only factor affecting the rates of complications associated with each method, with bowel complications occurring at a rate of 0.4/1000 with gynecologists and 1.5/1000 with general surgeons [12]. In the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada Clinical Practice Gynecology Guidelines, the final conclusion was that [there is no evidence that the open entry technique is superior to, or inferior to the other entry techniques currently available." Therefore, the debate continues as to which technique is superior to the other, and what local practice and patient factors are involved [2,3,13].

As the debate goes on, and the preference and experience of the surgeon continue to be the decisive factor in choosing one method over the other, it is crucial to look into the local patient population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the outcome of each method in relation to the complication rates and extent of use of each technique. Most studies have explored immediate and short-term complications, and rarely examined long-term complications such as hernia. This study aims to investigate the risk of hernia, as well as the important immediate complications, such as bowel injury and vascular injury, in relation to patient factors and techniques. As a result, we hope to aid surgeons in the choice of which entry method to adopt, that is associated with the least incidence of local complications.

Materials & Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study that aimed to compare the outcomes between the Veress needle and open technique for entering the peritoneum in laparoscopic surgeries. A chart review was used as an instrument to collect data, which was the ideal method to achieve the study goals. The study design allowed us to evaluate all possible complications of both techniques in a comparatively large sample size with little to no cost. It also helped in understanding the best and safest laparoscopic surgery technique. The study was conducted in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All patients who underwent abdominal laparoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2016 were included. The exclusion criteria included patients with a history of more than one abdominal surgery, history of hernia, age <20 years or >50 years, and those who underwent emergency surgeries. The variables included in the study: early surgical complications, late surgical complications, type of surgery, age, gender, and comorbidities.