Evaluation of a Novel Trocar-Site Closure Device in Laparoscopic Surgery.

Background and Objectives: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of EZ-Close (TM) compared to those of hand suture for trocar-site closure according to obesity. Methods: Fifty-four cases of laparoscopic colorectal surgery were enrolled. For the same patient, the right port site was closed using EZ-Close (TM) and left port site was closed by hand suture among cases with port-site diameter >= 10 mm. Cases switched to use of a conventional fascial closure device or with closure time 120 s were considered failures. Closure time was analyzed according to body mass index (BMI) and abdominal wall thickness (AWT). Results: The mean closure time was significantly shorter with EZ-Close (TM) than with hand suture (87.9 +/- 21.0 vs. 128.0 +/- 59.0 s, p < 0.001). The number of failure cases was significantly lower with EZ-Close (TM) than with hand suture (7 vs. 27, p < 0.001). The closure time of EZC1ose TM was significantly shorter than that of hand suture in patients with BMI >= 25 and < 27 kg/m(2) (n = 15, 85.9 +/- 19.8 vs. 135.6 +/- 67.9 s, p < 0.014) and > 27 kg/m(2) (n = 13, 85.1 +/- 18.4 vs. 150.2 +/- 70.6 s, p < 0.010). With respect to AWT, the closure time of EZ-Close (TM) was significantly shorter than that of hand suture in patients with AWT >= 20 and < 26 mm (n = 12,81.1 +/- 11.5 vs. 142.3 +/- 83.7 s, p = 0.023) and >= 26 mm (n = 17, 85.6 +/- 22.6 vs. 160.2 +/- 55.5, p < 0.001). No infection and herniation were detected in both trocar sites during the follow-up period (median 20.4 months). Conclusion: EZ-Close (TM) could provide time efficiency in trocar-site closure, especially in obese patients.