Distal thermal injury from monopolar electrosurgery.
Lysis of infrahepatic adhesions during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted by using monopolar electrocautery. The flow of current was seen to follow an unpredictable pathway and almost causing a thermal injury to an adjacent small bowel loop. A brief discussion of pertinent bioelectrical principles is also presented.
Ata
A H
AH
Department of General Surgery, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH 03102.
Bellemore
T J
TJ
Meisel
J A
JA
Arambulo
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000293:injuries*; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000601:surgery