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Medtronic
Specimen Retrieval Bag
It can be very bad news if
a specimen bag breaks
when you're trying to yank
it out through a small inci-
sion.
"I actually know of a
case where someone
ended up with a wound
infection from a routine
non-perforated appendix,"
says Dr. Olasky. "The bag
ripped and that person —
a healthy 20-year-old —
came back with a wound
infection."
Fortunately, Medtronic
has come up with a bag
that's almost impossible to rip. It's made from ripstop nylon, the
same material that's used to make parachutes and other items
that need to be as strong as possible. It comes in 10 mm and 12
mm sizes and is significantly stronger than polyurethane, but the
price is the same.
"I'd accept a slightly higher cost," says Dr. Olasky, who happily
showed a relatively easily ripped polyurethane bag side by side
with a piece of ripstop nylon. "It's definitely a good idea to have a
stronger bag, and I'll probably bring this to my people. I have a
tent and camping gear that are made out of the same material,
because it's so strong."
