Management of traumatic complications during gynaecological surgery

Despite appropriate pre-operative preparation and surgical skills, unexpected difficulties may by encountered during surgery and unintentional damage to adjacent structures or organs may result. The surgeon should be aware of this possibility and investigate accordingly. When repair to the damage is indicated, this should usually be performed at the time either by the operating surgeon or by a colleague in the appropriate specialty. A recognition of the signs and symptoms that might result from previously unrecognised damage is clearly very important and appropriate investigations must be instigated as soon as reasonably possible. Patients should be informed about any significant unintentional trauma and given advice about future management and likely sequelae.