A NEW TROCAR FOR SUPRAPUBIC BLADDER DRAIN AGE

The most technically imperfect trocars provided with the standard sets for suprapubic bladder drainage have impeded widespread acceptance of this method. Therefore an improved system with a new trocar was devel oped. Its geometrically defined, three-section tip includes a steep, v ery acute lancet with an integrated scalpel function for initial pierc ing of the tissue layers. The second knife section of the tip is less steep and cuts the tissue further in a semi-circular manner. The third section, the blunt dilatator, elastically widens the puncture opening . The lips of the wound are parted in the shape of a crescent, thus re liably avoiding a ''punching effect''. After elastic dilatation is com pleted, the inner lip of the wound is moved aside in the area of the t rocar shaft by the indwelling catheter. The blunt dilatator of the tro car tip is connected to the duct-like trocar shaft in a rounded way in order to avoid a sudden decrease in tissue resistance thus minimizing the risk of injury to the opposite bladder wall. Animal testing and c linical data document the advantages of the new system presented herei n.