Bowel and bladder injuries are relatively rare, but there can be serious complications of both open and minimally invasive gynecologic procedures. As with most surgical complications, timely recognition is key in minimizing serious patient morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of such injuries requires careful attention to surgical entry and dissection techniques and employment of adjuvant diagnostic modalities. Repair of bowel and bladder may be performed robotically, laparoscopically, or using laparotomy. Repair of these injuries requires knowledge of anatomic layers and suture materials and testing to ensure that intact and safe repair has been achieved. The participation of consultants is encouraged depending on the primary surgeon’s skill and expertise. Postoperative care after bowel or bladder injury requires surveillance for complications including repair site leak, abscess, and fistula formation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.