INTRAABDOMINAL BLEEDING FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC ADNEXAL SURGERY - A REPORT OF 3 CASES

BACKGROUND: The incidence of major complications from laparoscopy is r eported to be 0.6-2.5%. The literature reviewing laparoscopic adnexal surgery reports few cases of intraoperative or postoperative complicat ions. CASES: We describe three cases of intraabdominal bleeding follow ing laparoscopic oophorectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. In two of the three cases, postoperative exploratory laparotomy failed to identify the source of bleeding. CONCLUSION: Possible causes of postoperative b leeding are loosening of clips from an automatic stapling device and d elayed bleeding from vessels tamponaded by the pneumoperitoneum. Many complications of operative laparoscopy probably are underreported and, when present, may occur outside a health care facility since many of these cases are performed on an ambulatory basis. some patients will r equire medical and/or surgical intervention.