Trocar site closure with a novel anchor-based (neoClose®) system versus standard suture closure: a prospective randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Patients with obesity have a higher risk of trocar site hernia. The objective of the present study was to compare a standard suture passer versus the neoClose® device for port site fascial closure in patients with obesity undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery. This is a randomized, controlled trial with two parallel arms. Thirty five patients with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2 and undergoing laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass were randomized to each group. Port site fascial closure for trocars ≥ 10mm was performed with the neoClose® device in the study group and the standard suture passer in the control group. Primary outcomes were time required to complete closure and intensity of postoperative pain at the fascial closure sites. Secondary outcomes were intraabdominal needle depth and incidence of trocar site hernia. The use of the neoClose® device resulted in shorter closure times (20.2 vs 30.0s, p = 0.0002), less pain (0.3 vs 0.9, p = 0.002) at port closure sites, and decreased needle depth (3.3cm vs 5.2cm, p < 0.0001) compared to the standard suture passer. There was no trocar site hernia at the one-year follow-up in either group. Use of the neoClose® device resulted in faster fascial closure times, decreased intraoperative needle depth, and decreased postoperative abdominal pain at 1week as compared to the standard suture passer. These data need to be confirmed on larger cohorts of patients with longer follow-up.