INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF A LINEAR STAPLER DURING OPERATIVELAPAROSCOPY - REVIEW OF DIAGNOSIS, MANAGEMENT, AND PREVENTION

We report 7 recent examples of intraoperative and postoperative compli cations and injuries resulting from the use of an automatic stapling d evice during operative laparoscopy. The cases were collected throughou t the United States and represent a cross-section of common complicati ons. This report should alert surgeons to the possibilities of uretera l, bladder, and bowel injuries, postoperative bleeding, and instrument malfunctions. In addition, precautions and techniques to prevent and resolve complications are discussed.