trocar

A surgeon carefully inserts a trocar into the patient's abdomen.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Surgical instrument: A "trocar" is a sharp-pointed instrument used in medical procedures to puncture a body cavity, often as part of a cannula assembly for draining fluids or inserting surgical instruments.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The surgeon used a trocar to drain the abdominal fluid. (A sharp instrument for puncturing a body cavity.)
  • During laparoscopy, a trocar is inserted through the abdominal wall. (Used to create an entry point for surgical tools.)

Advanced Usage

• "Trocar and cannula": A common surgical setup where the trocar is inserted inside a hollow tube (cannula), then removed to allow access for instruments or drainage.
  • The trocar and cannula were placed together to maintain the opening. (The trocar creates the hole; the cannula keeps it open.)

Variants and Related Words

• Trocars (plural noun): multiple instruments of this type.
  • The surgical kit contained several trocars of different sizes.

Synonyms

• Stylet: a slender, pointed instrument used for similar purposes, often in catheter insertion.
• Lancet: a small, sharp surgical instrument for making incisions, though typically smaller than a trocar.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms are associated with "trocar" due to its specialized medical context.