In suturing, what is the difference between intracorporeal knots and extracorporeal knots?

In suturing, what is the difference between intracorporeal knots and extracorporeal knots?

• A. Intracorporeal knots are tied entirely inside the abdomen with instruments; extracorporeal knots are tied outside the body and then advanced into the abdomen.
• B. Intracorporeal knots are tied outside the body and then advanced inside.
• C. Extracorporeal knots are tied inside the abdomen with instruments.
• D. There is no difference between intracorporeal and extracorporeal knots.

Answer: (A)

In laparoscopic suturing, the key difference is where the knot is formed and how it is placed. Intracorporeal knots are tied entirely inside the abdomen using the laparoscopic instruments, with the throws created and secured inside the cavity. Extracorporeal knots are tied outside the body, and only after the knot is completed is it advanced into the abdomen, often using a knot pusher, where it is then tightened against the tissue. This distinction matters for technique and tissue handling: intracorporeal knots give you direct control for precise patterns and secure apposition, while extracorporeal knots can be faster for simpler closures but rely on reliable deployment inside the cavity. The statement describing intracorporeal knots as tying inside with instruments and extracorporeal knots as tying outside and then advancing captures the fundamental difference.