Endoscopic management of injured bowel using the automatic stapler

Bowel injury is a rare but potentially fatal complication of laparoscopy if it is unrecognized at the time of the procedure. Once a bowel injury is id entified, it must be repaired by either laparoscopy or laparotomy. The Endo GIA 30 stapler is effective for achieving large-vessel hemostasis and faci litating laparoscopic procedures, and is reported safe for laparoscopic hys terectomy It was used successfully in two women to repair extensive bowel i njuries.