ALTERNATIVE SITE ENTRY FOR LAPAROSCOPY IN PATIENTS WITH PREVIOUS ABDOMINAL-SURGERY

Laparoscopic procedures are increasingly performed in patients who hav e undergone prior abdominal surgery. Safe entry into the peritoneum in cludes avoidance of underlying viscera often tethered to the abdominal wall from surgical adhesions. Our group describes an alternative site technique utilizing the open Hasson procedure in a previously unopera ted field, thus avoiding potential underlying adhesions. During the pa st 24 months this technique has been performed successfully in 95 pati ents, and no open conversions due to visceral or vascular injuries wer e necessary. Previous abdominal surgery should not be an absolute cont raindication to minimally invasive procedures.