REUSE OF DISPOSABLE LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS - A STUDY OF RELATED SURGICAL COMPLICATIONS

OBJECTIVE: TO determine the rate of surgical complications related to reuse of disposable laparoscopic instruments. DESIGN: A review of all laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures done between August 1990 and January 1994 in which disposable laparoscopic instruments were reused . SETTING: Department of general surgery in a 461-bed teaching hospita l. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent 874 laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures in which disposable laparoscopic instruments were reused a ccording to validated reprocessing protocols. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: T he incidence of superficial and deep wound infections and complication s related to instrument malfunction. RESULTS: The combined rate for de ep and superficial infections was 1.8%. No complications related to a disposable instrument malfunction were found. CONCLUSION: Disposable l aparoscopic instruments may be safely reused under carefully monitored conditions and with strict guidelines.