A trocar is a surgical instrument with a sharp point which is used to
create a hole in the body which can be used to introduce surgical
tools. Trocars are most commonly attached to tubes known as cannulas, with surgical tools being passed down the cannula, through the trocar, and into the body. Trocars are widely used in laparoscopic surgery procedures. They are also utilized by the funeral industry, during the embalming process.
Although trocars
are traditionally sharp, the blade can come in a number of styles, from
the classic three pointed blade on a traditional trocar to a blunt
blade on a non-bladed version of the instrument. Trocars
can also be shielded, with small shields which click into place to
prevent damage to a patient's internal organs after the trocar has been
inserted. These devices are often designed to be single use, with the
trocar discarded after use in a patient.
One use for the trocar in human and animal medicine is for
aspiration. If a patient has a buildup of fluid or gas, a trocar can be
quickly inserted and connected to an aspiration tube to remove the
buildup. This can greatly increase comfort for the patient, acting as an
emergency intervention to stabilize the patient until a doctor can
determine what caused the buildup and address the problem. In laparoscopic surgery and surgical procedures on the veins and arteries, trocars
are used as ports, creating a point of entry for tools used during the
surgery. After the surgery is finished, the device is carefully removed
and small stitches are put in place.
Trocars come in a range of sizes,
designed for various applications. A surgical trocar may be quite large,
to allow for the introduction of surgical tools, and the surgeon can
usually select from several styles and sizes to find the most
appropriate tool for a procedure. Various devices can also be attached
to the instrument, such as aspiration machines, ports used for the
delivery of medicine, and so forth.
In the embalming process used to prepare bodies for burial, the
trocar is used to gain venous access for arterial embalming. Once the
embalming is complete, another trocar connected to an aspiration machine
is inserted into the abdomen
to drain gas and fluids. This is designed to prevent bloating of the
body, as the embalming process does not halt the process of
decomposition, only slowing it considerably.
