Bowel injury by the suction-irrigator during operative laparoscopy

Bowel injury is common during operative laparoscopy, yet injury by the suction-irrigator has never been reported to our knowledge. An injury to the sigmoid colon by suction-irrigator occurred during intestinal retraction. Primary repair was performed through minilaparotomy incision. In addition to the potentially damaging effect of the instrument, a firm, distended, and unprepared bowel was a leading factor in this injury. We recommend that all patients have bowel preparation before operative laparoscopy, and that great care be taken for all surgical manipulations, even when employing traditionally atraumatic instruments.