VENTRICULAR LACERATION AND CARDIAC-TAMPONADE DURING LAPAROSCOPIC NISSEN FUNDOPLICATION

Laparoscopic fundoplication is now accepted as an excellent alternativ e to long term medical therapy for select patients with gastroesophage al reflux disease. Morbidity is uncommon and usually not life threaten ing. The procedure requires retraction of the left lateral segment of the liver, which has emerged as one of the most troubling technical as pects. This case report represents an uncommon, albeit dramatic, compl ication involving traumatic injury to the right ventricle thought seco ndary to trauma from a non-disposable, fan shaped, liver retractor.