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Related Experiment Videos

The harmonic scalpel: an intraoperative complication

J T Awwad1, K Isaacson

  • 1Vincent Memorial Obstetrics and Gynecology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.

Obstetrics and Gynecology
|October 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

A rare complication of harmonic scalpel use in laparoscopic surgery is sigmoid colon injury. Bending the instrument can cause overheating and increase tissue injury risk.

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Area of Science:

  • Surgical Technology
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

  • The harmonic scalpel is an ultrasonically activated surgical device for tissue dissection.
  • Expanding applications in minimally invasive surgery have not been accompanied by reports of complications.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 35-year-old woman who sustained a sigmoid colon injury during laparoscopic pelvic adhesion lysis.
  • The injury was caused by the harmonic scalpel during the procedure.

Findings:

  • Acoustic energy coupling and overheating of the laparosonic blade extender sheath can occur when the instrument is bent.
  • This phenomenon increases the risk of adjacent tissue injury during laparoscopic procedures.

Implications:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Awareness of potential harmonic scalpel complications, such as iatrogenic bowel injury, is crucial.
  • Careful instrument manipulation, particularly during bending, is necessary to mitigate risks in laparoscopic surgery.