title: Finding a lost needle in laparoscopic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A lost needle during laparoscopic surgery is an uncommon major surgical problem. Finding and retrieval can be a challenge, whereas failure to do so carry potentially serious clinical and medicolegal implications. This study aims to investigate the application of a new device to retrieve lost needles intraoperatively compared with traditional management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed to locate articles on lost surgical needles associated with laparoscopic surgery. A laparoscopic magnet was designed and tested based on a case report and an animal experiment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The laparoscopic magnet was a fast and safe method for retrieval of lost surgical needles during laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lost needles during laparoscopic surgery can be located and retrieved by various methods. We found the laparoscopic magnet to be the safest and most efficient way of retrieving lost needles intraoperatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. wbarto@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barto
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yazbek
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D059346:Magnets; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*