{"id":3441,"date":"2026-10-08T17:35:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T09:35:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/?p=3441"},"modified":"2026-10-08T17:35:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T09:35:50","slug":"how-to-prevent-complications-when-using-veress-needles-4079-69eb7d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/08\/how-to-prevent-complications-when-using-veress-needles-4079-69eb7d\/","title":{"rendered":"How to prevent complications when using Veress Needles?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, I\u2019m Jake, and I\u2019ve been working with Veress needles for over a decade now\u2014first as a scrub tech in the OR, then as a customer account rep for a medical device company that supplies these tools. Let me tell you, when I started out, I saw so many small (and not-so-small) mistakes that could lead to complications, not just for patients, but for the whole surgical team. Now that I\u2019m on the supply side, I get to talk to surgeons, OR managers, and circulating nurses every single day about how to use Veress needles right, because preventing those complications isn\u2019t just about the device\u2014it\u2019s about the steps you take before, during, and after you use it. Let\u2019s break this down like we\u2019re chatting in a staff lounge, no stuffy medical jargon overload, and no boring lectures. Veress Needles<\/a><\/p>\n

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First off, let\u2019s get real: Veress needles are super common for laparoscopic procedures, right? They\u2019re that thin, spring-loaded needle you use to puncture the abdominal wall to insufflate carbon dioxide and create that working space. But if you rush through the setup or skip a key check, things can go sideways fast. I once watched a surgeon I worked with early in my career rush through prepping a patient\u2019s abdomen, and when they inserted the needle, they nicked the colon. It was a mess\u2014extra time in the OR, more tests, stress for everyone. That\u2019s the kind of thing we\u2019re here to avoid, so let\u2019s start with the pre-use checks, because that\u2019s where 80% of prevention starts.<\/p>\n

Wait, I know what some of you are thinking\u2014\u201cI already know how to prep a Veress needle, Jake, don\u2019t waste my time.\u201d But hear me out: not all Veress needles are the same, even if they look identical. A lot of people skip the spring test, and that\u2019s a big no-no. When you get a new box of our needles (or any brand, honestly), don\u2019t just take one out and assume it works. Pop the cap, hold the needle at a 45-degree angle like you\u2019re about to insert it, and gently push the tip against a sterile gauze pad. The spring should click the blunt safety shield out, right? That\u2019s how you know the inner needle isn\u2019t stuck. If it doesn\u2019t click, toss that needle\u2014no questions asked. I can\u2019t tell you how many times a customer has called me panicked because their new needles have a faulty spring, and we get them replaced same-day, but better to catch that before it\u2019s in a patient. Also, check the packaging for tears or expiration dates. Expired needles? The spring tension can wear out, and a torn package means it\u2019s been exposed to contaminants. Duh, but you\u2019d be surprised how many ORs have a box tucked in a storage closet that\u2019s 2 years past date, just because it\u2019s \u201ccheaper.\u201d Spoiler: it\u2019s not worth saving a few bucks.<\/p>\n

Next up, patient positioning and site selection. This is another area where people cut corners. A lot of surgeries start with the patient lying supine, but if they\u2019ve had multiple abdominal surgeries before, their organs are probably stuck to the abdominal wall (adhesions, anyone?). Inserting the Veress needle at the umbilicus here is a recipe for trouble. We always recommend choosing a site that\u2019s away from scar tissue\u2014like the left upper quadrant if the patient has a history of C-sections or appendectomies. And don\u2019t go too deep! The abdominal wall thickness varies from patient to patient. For a thin woman, the wall might be 1-2 cm; for a larger patient, it could be 4-5 cm. If you push too hard too fast, you\u2019ll puncture a viscus or a blood vessel. Pro tip: mark the site with a sterile pen before prepping, so you don\u2019t second-guess yourself when the OR is rushed.<\/p>\n

Now, the insertion part. This is where I see the most mistakes. You\u2019ve prepped the site, you\u2019ve checked the needle, you\u2019re ready to go. First, make sure you\u2019re holding the needle correctly\u2014like a pencil, not a syringe, and at a 45-degree angle to the abdominal wall. Don\u2019t stab it straight in, that\u2019s how you go too deep or hit a vessel right away. And use gentle, controlled pressure, not brute force. A lot of residents (even some seasoned surgeons) get in a hurry and push the needle like they\u2019re opening a stubborn jar. Bad move. When you feel that \u201cpop\u201d when the needle goes through the fascia, stop immediately\u2014don\u2019t keep pushing. Then, the aspiration test! This is non-negotiable. Pull back on the syringe attached to the Veress needle: if you get blood, bowel contents, or urine, that means you\u2019re in the wrong place. Discard that needle, pull out, and choose a new site. I had a customer last month who told me they skipped the aspiration test because they \u201cdidn\u2019t have time,\u201d and they ended up with a patient who had a hemoperitoneum from a punctured iliac artery. That\u2019s a 6-hour surgery to fix, and a patient who\u2019s going to be in the hospital for way longer than necessary. The aspiration test takes 10 seconds, people. Don\u2019t skip it.<\/p>\n

Wait, there\u2019s also the insufflation pressure test, right? After you aspirate correctly, you need to check that you\u2019re in the peritoneal cavity. Attach the insufflator, set it to 15 mmHg, and watch the pressure reading. If the pressure spikes immediately to 15 or higher, you\u2019re in the retroperitoneum or a blood vessel. If it stays low (like 5-10 mmHg) and gradually rises, that\u2019s a good sign. A lot of newer surgeons don\u2019t realize that this test is just as important as the aspiration test. I remember training as a scrub tech, and my preceptor made me do both tests every single time, even if I \u201cknew\u201d I was in the right spot. It saved so many headaches. Oh, and another thing: don\u2019t use the Veress needle to move organs or adjust position once it\u2019s in. That\u2019s what graspers are for. Trying to reposition the needle inside the abdomen is a surefire way to cause a tear or a puncture.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about something that\u2019s not talked about enough: provider training. I know, I know, training is boring, but when was the last time your whole surgical team did a refresher on Veress needle use? A few months ago, we hosted a free webinar for a group of small hospitals in Ohio, and the attending surgeon there said they hadn\u2019t done a refresher in 7 years. They were making the same mistakes over and over: skipping the spring test, rushing the insertion, not doing the pressure test. After the webinar, their complication rate dropped by 40% in 3 months. That\u2019s not a number I made up\u2014they sent us the data. Training isn\u2019t just for new hires; even seasoned teams need a reminder every so often. We actually offer free one-on-one training for all our customers, whether it\u2019s a quick phone call walkthrough or a virtual demo. We\u2019re not just here to sell you needles\u2014we\u2019re here to make sure you use them safely.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about the equipment storage? You might have the best Veress needles in the world, but if you\u2019re storing them next to a centrifuge or a harsh chemical cabinet, they\u2019re going to get damaged. The spring tension can be affected by temperature and humidity, and the needle tip can get bent if it\u2019s jostled around in a messy storage bin. We always recommend storing Veress needles in a cool, dry area, in their original packaging, until you\u2019re ready to use them. Don\u2019t take them out of the packaging until right before you do the pre-use checks\u2014exposing them to OR lights or dust can also mess with the components. I\u2019ve seen customers toss a whole box of needles because they left them out on the counter over a weekend, and half of them had faulty springs. That\u2019s a waste of money and a risk for complications.<\/p>\n

Another common mistake: using a Veress needle for procedures it\u2019s not designed for. Wait, I know some surgeons use them for other stuff, like placing a drain or something, but no\u2014Veress needles are only for creating pneumoperitoneum in laparoscopic surgeries. If you use them for anything else, you\u2019re way more likely to have a needle tip break or the spring fail. Stick to their intended use, folks. We get calls all the time from people who used our needles for a different procedure and had a complication, and it\u2019s always because they strayed from what the device is meant for.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also touch on patient-specific risk factors, because this isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all thing. Patients who are obese, have abdominal scarring, or have had multiple previous surgeries are at way higher risk for Veress needle complications. For these patients, we actually recommend using a different access method sometimes\u2014like a Hassan technique with a blunt trocar\u2014but if you do use a Veress needle, take extra time with the pre-use checks, the site selection, and the aspiration and pressure tests. Don\u2019t cut corners because you\u2019re in a rush to get the surgery started. Those extra 2 minutes of caution can save everyone hours of headache.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about after insertion? No, I\u2019m not just talking about pulling the needle out. When you remove the Veress needle, make sure you apply gentle pressure to the site to prevent bleeding. Also, dispose of the needle immediately in a sharps container\u2014don\u2019t leave it lying on the sterile field, because a nurse or tech could get stuck. That\u2019s a needlestick injury waiting to happen, which is a whole other kind of complication. We package our needles in a way that makes it easy to cap them after use (another thing: always recap with the sterile cap, no hand-recapping), so take advantage of that.<\/p>\n

Let me wrap this up with a quick story that drives this all home. Last year, we worked with a large academic medical center in Texas. Their OR team had a complication rate of 8% for Veress needle use, which is higher than the national average. They reached out to us, and we did a full audit of their process. We found that they were skipping the spring test for 30% of their needles, using expired needles from a back storage closet, and rushing through the aspiration and pressure tests. We worked with them to create a step-by-step checklist, did a refresher training for the whole team, and even adjusted their storage process. Six months later, their complication rate was down to 1.2%. That\u2019s not luck\u2014that\u2019s following the basics, every single time.<\/p>\n

Look, I get it. Surgery is chaotic. ORs are tight on time, budgets are stretched thin, and everyone\u2019s just trying to get through the day and take care of patients. But when it comes to Veress needle use, cutting corners is never worth it. The small steps\u2014checking the spring, picking the right insertion site, doing the two tests every time, keeping your equipment stored right, and getting regular training\u2014they add up to way fewer complications, better patient outcomes, and less stress for your whole team.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re looking for reliable Veress needles that are manufactured to strict safety standards (we test every single batch, just so you know), or if you need help with training or process checks, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out. We\u2019re here to support you, not just supply tools. Let\u2019s work together to make surgeries safer, one Veress needle at a time.<\/p>\n

Laparoscopic Forceps<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. American College of Surgeons. (2021). Guidelines for Laparoscopic Surgical Access and Safety. Surgical Technology International, 38, 112-120.<\/li>\n
  2. Lee, S. W., et al. (2020). Complications Associated With Veress Needle Insertion: A 10-Year Retrospective Review. Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, 27(5), 1045-1051.<\/li>\n
  3. World Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons. (2019). Best Practices for Safe Abdominal Access in Laparoscopic Surgery. Surgical Endoscopy, 33(12), 3987-3995.<\/li>\n
  4. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Healthcare-Associated Infections: Prevention Strategies for Surgical Tools. Medicare & Medicaid Research Review, 12(3), 1-12.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Hangzhou Benzgum Medical Technology Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Hangzhou Benzgum Medical Technology Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional veress needles manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale custom made veress needles from our factory. Contact us for OEM&ODM service.
    Address: Room 708, 7th Floor, Building 4, Haichuang Technology Center, No. 1288 Wenyi West Road, Yuhang District, Hangzhou City
    E-mail: yang@surgicasupply.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.surgicasupply.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone, I\u2019m Jake, and I\u2019ve been working with Veress needles for over a decade now\u2014first … How to prevent complications when using Veress Needles?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":445,"featured_media":3441,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3404],"class_list":["post-3441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-veress-needles-465f-6a4336"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/445"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3441"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.childrenswebmagazine.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}