Veress Needle

The Veress needle is a medical instrument used at the beginning of laparoscopic surgical procedures to inflate the abdominal area (pneumoperitoneum) and provide access to the abdominal cavity. The Veress needle is the first step in gaining access to the abdominal cavity. After the needle is inserted into the abdominal wall, the abdominal cavity is expanded by insufflating it with a gas such as air or carbon dioxide (CO2). This expansion allows the surgeon to better visualize internal organs and facilitates the more comfortable use of surgical instruments. While inserting the needle, the spring-loaded rounded tip (safety mechanism) moves inward, piercing through the outer layers of the abdomen. Once the needle enters the abdominal cavity, the rounded tip (safety mechanism) retracts, preventing injuries to internal organs. The Veress needle was developed in 1932 by Hungarian internist Janos Veress and is named after its creator.