trocar

A trocar is a surgical instrument used to insert a cannula into a body cavity. It features a sharp-pointed perforator within a sleeve called a cannula. Historically, it was used to drain fluids, such as to alleviate abdominal swelling. This procedure, known as aspiration, is still employed today, particularly in embalming and in emergency situations to relieve bloat in animals. In modern human medicine, trocars are commonly used in laparoscopic surgery to introduce instruments like laparoscopes into the abdominal cavity. The word "trocar" originates from the French "trois-quart," referring to its three sharp edges.12