Retractors and Extractors

Safe and effective dissection during surgery requires adequate visualization and retraction to enable the surgeon to identify critical structures. Laparoscopic surgery at times necessitates operating within a narrow field with interfering organs and structures. An extractor bag or pouch system is commonly used to remove specimens from the surgical field. These pouches and bags are usually made of plastic, nylon, or synthetic polymers, which have variable amounts of stretch and resistance to tearing. Despite minor differences in their deployment, closure, and retrieval, most retrieval systems are largely similar in their method of usage. This chapter will aim to present the commonly used retractor and extractor systems in modern laparoscopic surgery, and to provide readers with an understanding of how they can aid in their own surgical practice.