The widespread adoption of minimally invasive colorectal surgery has led to improved patient recovery and outcomes. Specimen extraction sites remain a major source of pain and potential postoperative morbidity. Careful selection of the extraction site incision may allow surgeons to decrease postoperative pain, infectious complications, or rates of hernia formation. Options include midline, paramedian, transverse, Pfannenstiel, and natural orifice sites. Patient, disease, and surgeon-related factors should all be considered when choosing a site. This article will review different options for specimen extraction sites.
