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A trocar is a surgical instrument used to create or maintain access into a body cavity. It is commonly used with a hollow sleeve called a cannula during minimally invasive procedures. In laparoscopic surgery, trocars create small ports for cameras and surgical tools. They should only be used by trained clinicians in controlled surgical settings.
read more about trocar ...A trocar system often includes a pointed or blunt obturator placed inside a cannula. The trocar helps enter the body cavity, then the cannula can stay in place as a working port. Instruments, cameras, suction tools, or other devices can pass through that port. Some trocars also help maintain a gas seal during laparoscopic procedures.
Trocars are used in laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, arthroscopic, and other minimally invasive procedures. In abdominal laparoscopy, they help create access for tools after the surgical area is prepared. The size and type depend on the procedure, instrument diameter, tissue thickness, and surgeon preference. Trocar placement is planned to give access while reducing injury risk.
Trocars can be bladed, bladeless, blunt-tip, optical, reusable, or single-use. Optical trocars can help clinicians view tissue layers during entry. Balloon or threaded designs can help keep the port stable in selected procedures. The choice depends on the surgical plan, patient anatomy, and device instructions.
Possible risks include bleeding, organ injury, gas leakage, infection, and pain at the port site. Staff check device size, sterility, packaging, sharpness, seals, and compatibility before use. During surgery, the team monitors port placement and instrument movement. After the procedure, the care team checks the site for bleeding, swelling, drainage, or signs of infection.
No. The trocar is the entry instrument, while the cannula is the hollow sleeve that can stay in place as a port. Some people use the terms together because they are part of the same access system.
No. Trocars are common in laparoscopy, but they can also be used in other minimally invasive procedures. The body area and procedure determine the type of trocar used.
Some trocars are reusable, while others are single-use. Reusable devices need cleaning, inspection, and sterilization based on the manufacturer's instructions.
Trocar size needs to match the instruments used during the procedure. A mismatch can cause poor access, gas leakage, or instrument movement problems.
Trocar Positioning and Placement. Vanderbilt University Medical Center Global Surgical Atlas. https://www.vumc.org/global-surgical-atlas/sites/default/files/public_files/PDF/Principles%20of%20Laparoscopy-%20Trocar%20positioning%20and%20placement.pdf. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Laparoscopic Trocar Complications. Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons. https://sls.org/the-3rd-edition-prevention-management/chapter-10/. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Trocar Types in Laparoscopy. PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11227320/. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Guidelines for Diagnostic Laparoscopy. Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. https://www.sages.org/publications/guidelines/guidelines-for-diagnostic-laparoscopy/. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Sterilization for Medical Devices. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/general-hospital-devices-and-supplies/sterilization-medical-devices. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.