Level 1A	There is no definitive evidence that the open entry technique for establishing pneumoperitoneum is superior or inferior to the other techniques currently available.
Level 1B	In thin patients (BMI <27), the direct trocar insertion is a safe alternative to the Veress needle technique.
Level 2C	Establishing pneumoperitoneum to gain access to the abdominal cavity represents a potential risk of parietal, intra-abdominal, and retroperitoneal injury.
	Patients after previous laparotomy, obese patients, and very thin patients are at a higher risk.
Level 3	Waggling of the Veress needle from side to side must be avoided, because this can enlarge a 1.6-mm puncture injury to an injury of up to 1 cm in viscera or blood vessels.
Level 4	The various Veress needle safety tests or checks provide insufficient information on the placement of the Veress needle.
	The initial gas pressure when starting insufflation is a reliable indicator of correct intraperitoneal placement of the Veress needle.
	Left upper quadrant (LUQ, Palmer’s) laparoscopic entry may be successful in patients with suspected or known periumbilical adhesions or history or presence of umbilical hernia, or after three failed insufflation attempts at the umbilicus.