A new knot-supporting instrument and knot technique for laparoscopic surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM We report here an instrument designed by Dr Hasan Bdrekci that provides support to the knot to facilitate knot tying in laparoscopic procedures. We call the device the 'B6rekci knot-supporting instrument' and the technique 'B6rekci's knot technique' MATERIALS AND METHODS To evaluate the efficacy of this instrument, 17 surgeons performing laparoscopic surgery tied 3 knots using the classical intracorporeal method and then using the intracorporeal knot-supporting instrument. The times required to tie each knot were recorded and compared statistically. RESULTS Comparing the 2 knotting methods, the time spent tying the knots was shorter with the knot-supporting instrument in all 3 trials and the difference was significant (P = 0.026) in the third trial. CONCLUSION This alternative technique can be used for all knots in laparoscopic surgery when classical intracorporeal knotting is difficult.