Contoured Pad Retracts Bowels During Surgery

A simple yet effective medical device safely retains the bowels away from the surgical field during abdominal surgery.

The Lap Pak is an innovative device made of soft, contoured, medical grade silicone that can be used in place of cotton pads during bowel packing, thus reducing accumulation of fibers and debris left in the surgical site. The shape of the device is supportive enough to cushion the bowels, safely distributing the pressure applied by retractor blades to hold the intestines gently and securely in place. Side flaps prevent the intestines from escaping and intruding into the surgical space. Various sizes make it suitable for almost all cases of open abdominal surgery, while the one-piece design reduces the probability of the device being left in the surgery site upon completion of the operation.


The one-piece design of Lap Pak enables quick and easy placement, in less than half the time taken to pack using traditional products. The device also facilitates monitoring of bowels, and maintains tissue temperature and hydration. As a result, the Lap Pak reduces trauma and drying out of the bowels; and unlike cotton packing, it does not leave debris that causes adhesions and granulomas. The Lap Pak is a product of Seguro Surgical (Columbia, MD, USA).

"We believe that this elegantly simple device will improve the overall efficiency of laparotomies and generate substantial reductions in overall healthcare costs,” said Steve Kubisen, Ph.D., president and CEO of Seguro Surgical. "The cost reduction potential and safety profile of this product will drive its rapid adoption within the surgical community.”

During many open abdominal surgeries, surgeons use cotton gauze pads and retractor systems to hold the bowels away from the surgical site, a process called "bowel packing." Placing these pads and holding them in place correctly using a retractor system prior to commencing surgery is a time consuming process which has to be repeated as many as 2 or 3 times during open abdominal surgery. Additionally, the gauze can dehydrate the bowel tissue during the surgery, and allows hard metal retractors to cause pressure points on the bowels and is commonly forgotten in the intestines. Once the surgery is complete the gauze pads are removed, leaving microscopic fibers and cotton based debris in the surgical site. When the abdominal organs are traumatized or exposed to foreign materials, inflammation and other repair processes initiate formation of abnormal bands of tissue within the abdomen. Such adhesions may involve the bowels and other organs, including, in women, the reproductive organs. In many cases, this can lead to bowel obstruction, infertility in women, chronic pain, and complications during future surgeries.

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