Haemostasis in laparoscopy

Adequate haemostasis is essential for advanced laparoscopic procedures since uncontrolled bleeding may cause significant complications and even required converting to laparotomy to obtain sufficient haemostasis. The aim of this review is to give insight into the most important tools and strategies to achieve sufficient haemostasis during advanced urologic laparoscopy.

Lowering the risk of haemorrhage may be achieved primarily by proper case selection, resulting in adequate laparoscopic preparation and dissection technique or the use of local compression by sponge stick to control local bleeding. For early bleeding control, laparoscopic clip appliers, staplers and suturing techniques may be utilised. Various energy sources such as monopolar and bipolar electrocautery, argon beam coagulators, laser or ultrasonic dissectors and topical sealing agents can be used to augment natural haemostasis.

A wide armamentarium for achieving haemostasis during laparoscopy is available. Consequently, laparoscopic surgeons must have detailed knowledge of the physical concepts of each surgical instrument or energy source and of proper use of tissue sealants for obtaining sufficient haemostasis. This knowledge will improve postoperative outcome, increase patient safety and guide laparoscopic techniques to further perspectives.