Trial for Retractor Sponge Evaluation in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery of the distal colon and rectum requires surgery with an appropriate field of view. A commonly used technique to create a clear exposure is the steep Trendelenburg position in which the patient is positioned in an angle of 15 to 40 degrees with the head down using the effect of gravity to retract the small intestine. This method is associated with haemostatic changes caused by the cranial shift of abdominal organs and blood. Recently, a cellulose compressed sponge was developed as intraoperative retractor, with the aim to keep the small intestines aside while the patient remains in a horizontal position. The safety of the sponge is secured with CE marking. The retractor sponge ensures a clear surgical field and potentially prevents haemostatic instability by avoiding Trendelenburg position. A pilot study in the St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein has shown that use of the sponge might be associated with shorter hospital stay.