A cannula for use in laparoscopic surgery has a central passage which may accept a trocar to create a laparoscopic incision in a body wall to an inner body cavity. A tubular section of the cannula is then pressed into the incision to form a port. The tubular section has passages through its walls for suturing needles and a source for insufflating gas. A tubular sleeve is slidably supported on the outer side of the tubular cannula for movement between a raised position clear of the needle passage exit ports and a lowered position blocking the exit ports to prevent insufflation gases from passing into the body wall.