A laparoscopic insufflating surgical instrument adapted for movement across an abdominal wall to insufflate an abdominal region of a patient, comprises: - a cannula (520) having a wall forming a first lumen extending along an axis between a proximal end and a distal end, and at least a first insufflation channel (522) formed in the wall and adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure at the proximal end; - a trocar (502) having a shaft (504) with a second lumen extending along the axis between a proximal end and a distal end, the trocar having a tip (506) at the distal end of the shaft; - at least one vent hole (508) formed at the tip of the trocar; and - a second insufflation channel (510) formed in the shaft or the tip of the trocar and adapted for alignment with the first insufflation channel to transfer fluid under pressure from the first insufflation channel to the trocar and to expel the fluid under pressure through the vent hole to insufflate the abdominal region.