Small bowel perforation from a thermal burn caused by contact with the end of a laparoscope during ovarian cystectomy

Abstract

Although laparoscopic surgery now replaces many gynecologic laparotomy procedures, serious complications unique to laparoscopy may occur, including vascular or bowel injury. In most cases of bowel injury during laparoscopy, the laparoscopic instruments that cause injury are the trocar, Veress needle, grasping forceps or scissors, electrocoagulator, or laser. We report a rare case of small bowel perforation after a thermal burn caused by contact with the end of the scope during laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Burns and perforations of the small bowel during laparoscopy are rare complications preventable by familiarity with the physical properties of the laparoscopic instruments.