title: Distal thermal injury from monopolar electrosurgery.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH 03102.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ata
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bellemore
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Meisel
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Arambulo
mesh_terms: 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