Cleaning the laparoscopic camera port by a microbiology culture swab.

INTRODUCTION

The 5-mm camera is currently widely utilized in Laparoscopic surgery. A disturbing problem for the laparoscopic surgeon is when this Port is becoming smudged by fat or blood, affecting the cleanliness of the 5-mm camera lens after insertion. Due to its narrow, long tube, cleaning this port is tricky. In this paper, we advocate a simple, cheap, and effective method for preventing the staining of the port, using a sterile culture swab stick.

METHODS

Once the first port is inserted, it will be cleaned with a sterile culture swab with a repeated in-and-out movement inside the port to clean it circumferentially until there is no further smudging of the swab. The camera is then introduced into the abdominal cavity. Each time either fat or blood stain the port, the culture swab stick is then utilized to wipe it.

RESULTS

In our experience, the use of the culture swab stick beforehand to clean the 5-mm camera port prior to insertion renders the use of any other cleaning method unnecessary.

CONCLUSION

Using the microbiology sterile culture swab stick to clean the 5-mm camera port is a simple, cheap method to clean the port from any debris.