Twenty-first century trocars can be divided into two main groups:
Cutting trocars have a sharp plastic or metal blade that cuts through layers of tissue as pressure is applied. They are designed for easy entry into subcutaneous (usually abdominal) cavities.
Dilating trocars have a blunt tip for dilating and separating tissues when pressure is applied. These non-cutting trocars are intended to minimize the risk of injury to internal organs in surgical procedures.
There is a tremendous variety of instruments within these two categories to provide the features specialists require. There are trocars with camera ports, working ports, retraction ports, and static ports. For straightforward surgical procedures, such as diagnostic laparoscopy, an optic trocar with a 5 mm port is more than adequate for lighting and control. When removal of large masses requires a morcellator, a trocar with a 12 mm port is likely to be adequate.
Disposable cutting trocars are growing in popularity. They offer a guaranteed-sharp tip and are also guaranteed sterile with no risk of cross contamination.
