Extraction bags provide no benefit when compared to unprotected lateral stomach extraction during laparoscopic sleeve...

Currently, no evidence compares outcomes for techniques utilizing surgical specimen extractions bags versus unprotected extraction.

Evaluation of sleeve gastrectomies performed at two high-volume centers. Cases where an extraction bag was used (+EB) were compared to bag-less extraction (-EB). Outcomes included operative contamination, surgical site infections and extraction-site hernias.

674 patients were evaluated (417 in the +EB group and 257 in the -EB group). Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups. There was a trend toward shorter operative times with the -EB group (-EB = 100 min vs + EB = 106 min, p = 0.07). Gross spillage was documented as a contaminated case in 0.4% of -EB cases compared to 1.2% in +EB cases (p = 0.51). Two superficial infections were appreciated (1.2% = +EB vs 0.7% = -EB, p = 0.7) with one post-operative abscess in the -EB group (p = 0.61). One post-operative hernia was seen in each group (p = 0.62).

Bag-less extraction is a safe, resource conscious method that may potentially decreased operative time.