Aortic injury associated with trocar insertion during laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: A case report

Lee, Hee Jong; Kim, Kyo Sang; Song, Hyun Hoo

Case Report

Obstetric Anesthesia

Anesthesia and Pain Medicine 2010;5(2):159-161.
Published online April 30, 2010.

Aortic injury associated with trocar insertion during laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy: A case report

Hee Jong Lee, Kyo Sang Kim, Hyun Hoo Song

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kimks@hanyang.ac.kr

Abstract

Aortic injury during laparoscopic procedures is a rare but life-threatening complication if not recognized and swiftly treated. We report our experience with a 47-year-old woman presenting with an aortic puncture of the anterior wall from a trocar insertion during a laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (laparoscopic hysterectomy). Diagnosis was delayed because of the limited vision of the laparoscope and the tamponade effect produced by the pneumoperitoneum. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the risk of iatrogenic major vessel injury during trocar insertion.

Key Words: Complications, aortic injury, Laparoscopy, Trocar