An ergonomic field study to evaluate the effects of a rotatable handle piece on muscular stress and fatigue as well as subjective ratings of usability, wrist posture and precision during laparoscopic surgery: an explorative pilot study.

PURPOSE: The interface between surgeon and the laparoscopic instrument is an important factor in biomechanical stress that may increase the risk of musculoskeletal complaints in surgeons. This article investigates the effect of a laparoscopic instrument with a rotatable handle piece (rot-HP) on muscular stress and fatigue during routine laparoscopic procedures (LP) as well as usability, wrist posture and working precision. METHODS: 40 LP (subtotal hysterectomies) performed by 11 surgeons were investigated. 20 LP were carried out with the rot-HP and 20 with a fixed (standard) laparoscopic handle piece instrument. Shoulder and arm muscle activity was monitored via surface electromyography (sEMG). The electrical activity (EA) and median power frequency (MPF) were used to determine muscular stress and fatigue. Usability, wrist posture, and working precision between handle piece conditions were assessed by a survey. RESULTS: Using the rot-HP did not reduce muscular stress. A tendency of muscular fatigue (increasing EA, decreasing MPF) occurred in the upper trapezius, middle deltoid and extensor digitorum muscles; however, no differences were found between handle pieces. Wrist posture was more comfortable using the rot-HP and working precision and usability tended to be preferred using the standard handle piece. CONCLUSIONS: Although wrist posture seemed to be optimized by the rot-HP, no effect on muscular stress and fatigue was observed in routine LP (< 60 min duration). Optimization of wrist posture may provide positive effects in mid- or long-term procedures. However, sufficient familiarization with the new instrument is crucial since working precision and usability could be impaired.

Direct Laparoscopic Trocar Insertion: Lessons Learned from Nine Litigated Cases.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To report circumstances and clinical and medicolegal outcomes of 9 litigated cases associated with direct trocar insertion (DTI) injuries to the bowel (7 cases) and major vessel (2 cases) during primary laparoscopic access. DESIGN: A case series from 1990 through 2015 (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). PATIENTS: Nine litigated cases. INTERVENTIONS: A retrospective review of medical and legal records of litigated cases in Canada reviewed by the primary author (G.A.V.). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The average and range of age and body mass index of the women were 31 years (range, 14-65 years) and 25 kg/m2 (range, 20-35 kg/m2), respectively. Indications for laparoscopy included diagnostic (4), laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (3), pelvic mass (1), and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (1). DTI was performed with 10-mm trocars (5 shielded, 1 reusable, and 3 unknown). Two complications were experienced by patients of the same male surgeon (cases 2 and 9). Injuries included the small bowel (4 cases), colon (3 cases), and major vessel (2 cases). Vascular injuries resulted in permanent brain damage in 1 and near loss of limb in the other; litigation was favorable to the plaintiff in both cases. All bowel injuries presented with signs and symptoms of peritonitis within 3 postoperative days (PODs) (5 patients on POD 1, 1 patient on POD 2, and 1 patient on POD 3); however, only 2 cases were acted upon and remedied with favorable clinical and medicolegal outcomes. A delayed exploratory laparotomy resulted in significant adverse clinical outcomes (ileostomy/colostomy in 4 patients, multiple surgeries in 7 patients, and 1 death), and in all delayed actions, the medicolegal outcomes were favorable to the plaintiff. CONCLUSION: During laparoscopic primary peritoneal access using the DTI technique, inadvertent intra-abdominal injury may be significant when major vessels are involved and when intervention is delayed in bowel injuries. These result in significant adverse clinical complications and may provoke higher litigation with more favorable outcomes for the plaintiff.

Insulation failure in electrosurgery instrumentation: a prospective evaluation.

BACKGROUND: The use of electrosurgery has expanded to a wide variety of surgical specialities, but it has also been accompanied by its share of complications, including thermal injuries to nontargeted tissues, caused by a break or defect in the insulation of the instrument's coat. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the location of insulation failures (IFs) in electrosurgical instruments, then to assess the necessity of routine IF testing. METHODS: Electrosurgical instruments were visually inspected and checked for IF using a high-voltage detector. Two different detectors were used during two testing sessions: DTU-6 (Petel company) and DIATEG (Morgate company). Laparoscopic and non-laparoscopic instruments were determined to have IF if current crossed the instrument's insulation, signaled by an alarm sound. RESULTS: A total of 489 instruments were tested. The overall prevalence of IFs was 24.1 % with only visual inspection and 37.2 % with the IF detector. Among the 489 instruments, 13.1 % were visually intact, but had an electric test failure. DTU-6 and DIATEG detectors showed comparable efficiency in detection of overall IFs and for laparoscopic and non-laparoscopic instruments. The median location of IFs was more pronounced for laparoscopic instruments (50.4 %) and the distal location for non-laparoscopic instruments (40.4 %). CONCLUSION: Accidental burns are a hidden problem and can lead to patient complications. In Central Sterilization Service Department, prevention currently includes only visual control of electrosurgery instrumentation, but testing campaigns are now necessary in order to identify maximum instruments' defects.

Does rectal cancer height influence the oncological outcome?

AIM: The influence of the height of rectal cancer from the anal verge on the oncological outcome is controversial. This study aimed to determine the influence of the height of the tumour on the survival of patients treated in a specialized rectal cancer unit. METHOD: Patients undergoing surgery for primary rectal cancer from 2006 to 2013 were identified from a prospectively maintained rectal cancer database. Those requiring total or multicompartmental pelvic exenteration were excluded. Low cancer was defined as tumour < 5 cm from the anal verge, as assessed by endoscopy and/or digital rectal examination. The primary outcome was 3-year disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS: Of 340 patients, 203 (59.7%) had low cancer. There were 302 (89%) restorative and 38 (11%) nonrestorative procedures. The rate of positive circumferential resection margin was similar for low compared with high cancer (3.4% vs 2.9%, P = 1.0) and for restorative compared with nonrestorative procedures in low cancer only (3.0% and 5.3%, P = 0.619). Low compared with high anterior resection was associated with increased anastomotic leakage (8.5% vs 2.2%, P = 0.023). Three-year DFS was similar for low and high resection (82% vs 86%, P = 0.305) and between restorative vs nonrestorative procedures in low cancer only (88% vs 77%, P = 0.215). In an adjusted model, low height did not lead to worse survival outcome (3-year DFS hazard ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.24-1.24, P = 0.147). CONCLUSION: With careful planning and a multidisciplinary approach, equivalent oncological outcome can be achieved for patients with rectal cancer who undergo curative surgery regardless of differences in tumour characteristics, location and operation performed.

Research progress of robot and laparoscope in postoperative complications of rectal cancer.

Rectal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours worldwide, and it is also one of the major diseases that seriously threatens human life and health. At present, the main treatment for rectal cancer is still surgical treatment. The surgical methods have been rapidly developed from the previous open surgery to the current minimally invasive surgery. At present, there are two main minimally invasive surgeries: robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery. Due to the particularity of rectal cancer surgery, more and more studies have shown that robotic rectal cancer surgery has more advantages than laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery. However, whether the incidence of postoperative complications after robotic rectal cancer surgery is lower than that after laparoscopy is not uniformly conclusive in the current study. Therefore, in this paper, we searched Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Embase and other databases, collected the latest published meta-analysis on postoperative complications of robots and laparoscopy in rectal cancer, and assessed the quality of the included meta-analysis by AMSTAR-2 evaluation tool, so as to explore the current research status and research quality of postoperative complications of robots and laparoscopy in rectal cancer. The results showed that compared with laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery, robotic rectal cancer surgery could improve the postoperative urinary and reproductive function of male patients, but it could not be proved that robotic rectal cancer surgery could reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, anastomotic leakage, urinary retention, intestinal obstruction, anastomotic bleeding, incision infection, pulmonary infection, venous thrombosis and abdominal abscess; however, the overall quality of meta-analysis of the results of each complication was low or very low. Therefore, multicenter, large-sample, high-quality prospective randomised controlled studies and high-quality meta-analysis are still needed to prove the advantages of robotic rectal cancer surgery in postoperative complications in the future.

Safety and efficacy of new integrated bipolar and ultrasonic scissors compared to conventional laparoscopic 5-mm sealing and cutting instruments.

BACKGROUND: Hemostasis is a central issue in laparoscopic surgery. Ultrasonic scissors and bipolar clamps are commonly used, with known advantages with each technique. METHODS: The prototype of new surgical scissors, delivering ultrasonically generated frictional heat energy and bipolar heat energy simultaneously (THUNDERBEAT(®) [TB]), was compared to ultrasonic scissors (Harmonic ACE(®) [HA]) and an advanced bipolar device (LigaSure(®) [LS]) using a pig model. As safety parameters, temperature profiles after single activation and after a defined cut were determined. As efficacy parameters, seal failures and the maximum burst pressure (BP) were measured after in vivo sealing of vessels of various types and diameters (categories 2-4 and 5-7 mm). Moreover, the vertical width of the tissue seal was measured on serial histological slices of selected arteries. The cutting speed was measured during division of isolated arteries and during dissection of a defined length of compound tissue (10 cm of mesentery). Burst-pressure measurement and histological analysis were performed by investigators blinded to the used sealing device. RESULTS: Using the TB, the burst pressure in larger arteries was significantly higher (734 ± 64 mmHg) than that of the HA (453 ± 50 mmHg). No differences in the rate of seal failures were observed. The cutting speed of the TB was significantly higher than that of all other devices. Safety evaluation revealed temperatures below 100 °C in the bipolar device. The maximum temperature of the HA and the TB was significantly higher. No relevant differences were observed between the HA and the TB. CONCLUSIONS: The ultrasonic and bipolar technique of the TB has the potential to surpass the dissection speed of ultrasonic devices with the sealing efficacy of bipolar clamps. However, heat production that is comparable to conventional ultrasonic scissors should be minded for clinical use.

Glutaraldehyde-induced bowel injury during gynecologic laparoscopy.

Glutaraldehyde is a widely used disinfectant, especially in developing countries, for rapid and effective disinfection of laparoscopic instruments that are not suitable for sterilization in an autoclave. This incident report demonstrates that even remarkably small residual amounts of glutaraldehyde on inadequately cleaned laparoscopic instruments can cause chemical burns during laparoscopic surgery. Our goal is to raise awareness of the possible hazardous effects of glutaraldehyde when necessary measures are not taken to properly sterilize laparoscopic instruments.

Transhiatal chest drainage in mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer occasionally causes postoperative accumulation of pleural effusion despite the preservation of the mediastinal pleura. Transhiatal chest drainage has been reported to be useful for thoracic esophagectomy; however, its use in mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy remains unelucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transhiatal chest drainage in mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients who underwent mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy for esophageal cancer from 2018 to 2021. Transhiatal chest drainage involved the insertion of a 19-Fr Blake® drain from the abdomen to the left thoracic cavity through the hiatus. We assessed its effectiveness and safety by the daily drainage output, accumulation of postoperative pleural effusion, frequency of postoperative thoracentesis, and other complications. The drainage group comprising 24 patients was compared with the non-drainage group comprising 13 patients, in whom a transhiatal chest drainage tube was not placed during mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy. RESULTS: The median daily output of the transhiatal chest drainage was 230 mL on day 1, 385 mL on day 2, and 313 mL on day 3. The number of patients with postoperative pleural effusion was significantly reduced from 10/13 (76.9%) in the non-drainage group to 4/24 (16.7%) in the drainage group (p = 0.001). The frequency of thoracentesis in the drainage group was significantly lower than that in the non-drainage group (p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in the occurrence of other postoperative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Transhiatal chest drainage could evacuate pleural effusion effectively and safely after mediastinoscope and laparoscope-assisted esophagectomy.

Insulation failure in robotic and laparoscopic instrumentation: a prospective evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to detect the incidence, prevalence, and location of insulation failures (IFs) in laparoscopic and robotic instruments. STUDY DESIGN: In phase A, a total of 78 robotic and 298 laparoscopic instruments were tested at 20 W and 2.64 kV at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. In phase B, 60 robotic and 308 laparoscopic instruments were tested at 20 W/1 kV and 20 W/4.2 kV, respectively. RESULTS: In phase A, the robotic group showed a higher prevalence (25/78; 32%) and incidence of IFs after 10 uses (35/44 instruments; 80%) when compared with laparoscopy (prevalence, 39/298 [13%]; incidence, 68/189 [36%]; P<.05). In phase B, IFs were detected in 81.7% of the robotic instruments and in 19.5% of the laparoscopic instruments (P<.005). CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence and prevalence of IF in endoscopic instrumentation that is more common in the robotic group.

A systematic review of laparoscopic port site hernias in gastrointestinal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Port site hernia is an important yet under-recognised complication of laparoscopic surgery, which carries a high risk of strangulation due to the small size of the defect involved. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence, classification, and pathogenesis of this complication, and to evaluate strategies to prevent and treat it. METHODS: Medline was searched using the words "port site hernia", "laparoscopic port hernia" "laparoscopic complications" and "trocar site hernias". The search was limited to articles on cholecystectomy, colorectal, bariatric or anti-reflux surgery published in English. A total of 42 articles were analysed and of these 35 were deemed eligible for review. Inclusion criteria were laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery in English only with reported incidence of port site herniation. Studies were excluded if insufficient data was provided. Eligible studies were also cross-referenced. RESULTS: Analysis of 11,699 patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrointestinal procedures demonstrated an incidence of port site hernias of 0.74% with a mean follow-up of 23.9 months. The lowest incidence of port site herniation was for bariatric surgery with 0.57% in 2644 patients with a mean follow-up of 67.4 months while the highest incidence was for laparoscopic colorectal surgery with an incidence of 1.47% in 477 patients with a mean follow-up of 71.5 months. CONCLUSION: All fascial defects larger than or equal to 10mm should be closed with peritoneum, while smaller defects may require closure in certain circumstances to prevent herniation. Laparoscopic port site herniation is a completely preventable cause of morbidity that requires a second surgical procedure to repair.

[A case report of port-site metastasis of pancreatic cancer after laparoscope assistted distal pancreatectomy].

Laparosopic port-site metastasis is rare, but a well recognized outcome following surgery in gastroenterological surgery for gastric cancer, colon cancer and gallbladder cancer with its etiology was not clearly understood. We report a port-site metastasis of pancreatic cancer diagnosed by position emission tomography( PET). A 49-year-old man was diagnosed as splenic tumor with pancreatic tail invasion due to malignant lymphoma, and received a laparoscope assisted distal pancreatectomy. Unsuspected pancreatic cancer was discovered with histological result of moderate differentiated invasive ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas infiltrating spleen. Systemic chemotherapy with 1,000 mg/m² of gemcitabine (GEM) was performed for six months. Unfortunately, our patients relapsed one year after the surgery with multiple lesions in the peritoneum, abdominal wall, as well as a laparoscopic port-site metastasis. He was started on 100 mg/body of S-1 daily, subsequently, combined chemotherapy with GEM( 80 mg/m²) and S-1( 80 mg/body) was also performed. Furthermore, he underwent palliative radiation therapy( 40 Gy) to care the pain. Fortunately, a long-term survival of 3 years was elicited by these systemic treatments and radiography. Laparoscopic port-site metastases are associated with presence of advanced cancer. Therefore, we should carefully precede a laparoscopic resection against pancreatic cancer.

Vacuum grasping as a manipulation technique for minimally invasive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery requires specially designed instruments. Bowel tissue damage is considered one of the most serious forms of lesion, specifically perforation of the bowel. METHODS: An experimental setting was used to manipulate healthy pig bowel tissue via two vacuum instruments. During the experiments, two simple manipulations were performed for both prototypes by two experienced surgeons. Each manipulation was repeated 20 times for each prototype at a vacuum level of 60 kPa and 20 times for each prototype at a vacuum level of 20 kPa. All the manipulations were macroscopically assessed by two experienced surgeons in terms of damage to the bowel. RESULTS: In 160 observations, 63 ecchymoses were observed. All 63 ecchymoses were classified as not relevant and negligible. No serosa or seromuscular damages and no perforations were observed. CONCLUSION: Vacuum instruments such as the tested prototypes have the potential to be used as grasper instruments in minimally invasive surgery.

[Complications in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery].

Minimally invasive surgery was quickly conquered and implemented because of the proven reduction of morbidity and mortality in various surgical operations. The main advantages of laparoscopic surgery are lesser surgical trauma, better cosmetic effect, the patient's rapid recovery and return to a normal lifestyle With the advent of laparoscopic surgery were born and a new type of complications unique to it and the level of experience and knowledge of surgeon. Over time, exponentially growing interest in laparoscopic surgery, and thus perfecting it, thus increasing the number and type of surgical gynecological operations performed laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy continues to evolve with more complex instruments with newer instruments and energy sources in order to facilitate the work of the surgeon to reduce operative time, to increase the success of interventions and to reduce the complications. So it is important to conduct regular education and repeated training with laporoscopic techniques to decrease complications.

Bladder injuries during laparoscopic orchiopexy: incidence and lessons learned.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic orchiopexy is a safe operation. However, the bladder can be injured during creation of the transperitoneal tunnel for the cryptorchid testis. We reviewed our experience with this complication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched the operative notes of patients who had undergone laparoscopic orchiopexy between August 15, 2002 and October 1, 2008, and identified bladder injuries and their treatment. RESULTS: A total of 93 patients underwent laparoscopic orchiopexies for 101 undescended testes during the study interval, with 3 procedures resulting in bladder injuries. The 3 operations varied with regard to whether the injury was recognized intraoperatively or postoperatively, and repaired in an open or laparoscopic fashion. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder injury during laparoscopic orchiopexy is a rare but serious complication that can be managed by an open or laparoscopic approach. We recommend placement of a urethral catheter and syringe assisted drainage of all urine from the bladder at the beginning of the operation, careful perivesical dissection particularly in children with prior inguinal surgery, filling and emptying of the bladder during the procedure, and maintaining a high index of suspicion especially when hematuria is observed.

Primary access-related complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy via the closed technique: experience of a single surgical team over more than 15 years.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), a common laparoscopic procedure, is a relatively safe invasive procedure, but complications can occur at every step, starting from creation of the pneumoperitoneum. Several studies have investigated procedure-related complications, but the primary access- or trocar-related complications generally are underreported, and their true incidence may be higher than studies show. Major vascular or visceral injury resulting from blind access to the abdominal cavity, although rare, has been reported. Of the two methods for creating pneumoperitoneum, the open access technique is reported to have the lower incidence of these injuries. The authors report their experience with the closed method and show that if performed with proper technique, it can be as rapid and safe as other techniques. However, injuries still happen, and the search for the predisposing factors must be continued. METHODS: Between January 1992 and December 2007, a retrospective study examined 15,260 cases of LC performed for symptomatic gallstone disease in the authors' institution by a single team of surgeons. The primary access-related injuries in these cases were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: In 15,260 cases of LC, 63 cases of primary access-related complications were identified, for an overall incidence of 0.41%. Major injuries in 11 cases included major vascular and visceral injuries, and minor injuries in 52 cases included omental and subcutaneous emphysema. For the closed method, the findings showed an overall incidence of 0.14% for primary access-related vascular injuries and 0.07% for visceral injuries. CONCLUSION: Primary access-related complications during LC are common and can prove to be fatal if not identified early. The incidence of these injuries with closed methods is no greater than with open methods. No evidence suggests abandonment of the closed-entry method in laparoscopy.

[Complications of gynaecological surgery]. / Complicaciones de la cirugía ginecológica.

Gynaecological surgery is undergoing a process of constant change and therefore some of its complications as well. The incorporation of endoscopy has added a new dimension, with the rate of complications related to its complexity. Endoscopy has meant a great advance in surgery, and specifically in gynaecology, which benefits from two ways of approaching the genital apparatus: laparoscopy and histeroscopy. These techniques involve risks that are specific to these techniques: the induction of pneumoperitoneum, insertion of trocar, remote coagulation, vascular passage of the glycine employed in uterine relaxation during hysteroscopy, etc. When a patient comes to Accidents and Emergencies in the postoperative phase, or simply suffers a complication during the 24 or 48 hours that they are hospitalised, the doctor who attends her must be acquainted with this course of approach and its possible complications.

Genitofemoral nerve injury after laparoscopic varicocelectomy in adolescents.

PURPOSE: Genitofemoral nerve injury is an underappreciated complication after laparoscopic varicocele ligation in teenage boys. We describe the incidence according to ligation instrument and the pattern of spontaneous symptom resolution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent laparoscopic varicocele ligation between 2004 and 2007 were retrospectively grouped by ligation modality (clipping or cautery by ultrasonic shears). The incidence of iatrogenic genitofemoral nerve injury was assessed and compared. To illustrate the pattern of resolution, 1 affected patient documented the decreasing area of paresthesia through time on a topographic map. RESULTS: During the study period laparoscopic varicocele ligation was performed using ultrasonic shears in 12 boys and endoscopic clips/cold dissection in 15. Genitofemoral nerve injury occurred in 2 patients using ultrasonic shears (17%) and no patient in the clip/cold dissection group (p = 0.10). In both patients the paresthesias resolved completely by 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Genitofemoral nerve injury may be more frequent when the dissection is performed using "hot" methods such as cautery by ultrasonic shears. Preoperatively, patients should be made aware of the relatively high incidence and the usually self-limiting nature of this complication.

Laparoscopic bowel injury: role of the site and the instrument type: study with an animal model.

BACKGROUND: Unrecognized laparoscopic bowel injuries are complications that can occur during any laparoscopic procedure. These complications have variable morbidity and mortality rates, and their early clinical signs of inflammation are not typical. Therefore, a study was planned to predict the mechanical behavior of the injured bowel, taking into consideration two parameters: the size of the instrument and the site of the injury. METHODS: For this study, 78 Wistar rats were divided into eight study groups and one control group with two subgroups. Bowel injury was created using different sizes of needles and electrocautery on two different bowel sites: the jejunum and the terminal ileum. The animals were killed 48 h after surgery, followed by harvesting of the injured part of the bowel and measurement of the intraluminal pressure at which the bowel ruptured. RESULTS: The mean jejunum and terminal ileum rupture pressures on the injured bowel were significantly lower than on the intact bowel. The mean terminal ileum rupture pressures were significantly lower than those of the jejunum. CONCLUSIONS: The terminal ileum appears to be more fragile than the jejunum regardless of the size of the instrument that caused the injury. However, wider instrument tips cause more serious consequences.

Can a structured checklist prevent problems with laparoscopic equipment?

BACKGROUND: A high incidence of problems with the technical equipment is known to occur during routine laparoscopic procedures. Use of a structured checklist of preparatory measures could help to prevent these problems. This study aimed to determine the extent to which a checklist reduced the number of incidents with technical laparoscopic equipment. METHODS: A 28-item checklist was developed based on frequently occurring laparoscopic equipment problems during 30 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (the control group). A further 30 procedures were conducted with the checklist (the checklist group). The number and type of incidents with the technical equipment were compared between the groups. All the procedures were recorded using a special audio-video system (black-box). RESULTS: In the checklist group, the total number of incidents per procedure was 53% lower than in the control group (23/30 versus 49/30). The checklist led to fewer incidents of wrong positioning (9/30 versus 22/30), and wrong settings and connections (7/30 versus 12/30) of the equipment. Defects or malfunctions decreased from 15/30 in the control group to 7/30 in the checklist group. One or more incidents with the equipment occurred in 47% (14/30) of the checklist procedures compared with 87% (26/30) of the control procedures. Median time taken to complete the checklist items was 3.3 min (range 1.0-8.3 min). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a checklist was feasible and helped to reduce problems with the laparoscopic equipment in the operating room. Future research should aim to implement checklists for different procedures and investigate their effects.