The self retracting glove - An aid to minilaparotomy

A simple technique is presented to help the surgeon gain additional exposur e during open minicholecystectomy or any other open minimal abdominal proce dure. The technique consists of a empty sterile glove inserted into the abd omen and filled with 500 mL saline. When filled with saline, the glove beco mes soft and malleable-adjusting itself to fill the desired space. The resu lting retraction is nontraumatic to the adjacent organs, The small laparoto my wound is spared the trauma from the deep retractors that would have been otherwrise used to achieve exposure. The retracting glove is effective, ea sy to use, inexpensive, and safe.