title: Mortality following laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: The rapid advance in laparoscopic surgery in different surgical specialities has raised concerns about its safety, especially when the procedures are now being performed by less-experienced surgeons. The use of electrosurgery further increases the possibility of unrecognized organ injury and requires a good understanding of the basic principles. Despite the fact that the use of electrosurgery is frequently emphasized and discussed in most of laparoscopic surgery conferences, this is seldom taught in in-house residence programs. We describe a case of death as a result of unrecognized thermal damage and would like to stress the importance of awareness of this potential lethal complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. wklo@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuen
mesh_terms: D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000293:injuries; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D014102:Torsion Abnormality