Bowel injury during laparoscopy

[IVFendomum]

I had a laparoscopy this morning for excision of endometriosis. Feeling pretty rough recovering in hosp right now.

the surgeon afterwards came through to see me and said the electric current they use to do the excision had touched my large bowel. He said it caused a slight injury - minor and he’s not overly concerned.

I was still pretty woozy at that point and didn’t ask much. He came back not long after and said that after discussing with a colleague, they’d like to keep me in overnight, give IV antibiotics and repeat observations tomorrow. Then I need to come back again Monday and repeat obs again.

I’m not sure how concerned to be. I did google and results were fairly alarming - talk of stomas and death. But I’m assuming that’s for a more serious injury - like perforation. And it’s also more dangerous when it’s undiagnosed.

has anyone got any experience of this? What questions do you think I should ask before I’m discharged tomorrow? Ty x

I’d be wanting to know if they are going to do an ultrasound before discharge to rule out intra peritoneal air or fluid.

id be wanting them to give me a list of any signs/symptoms I should be watching out for once I’m back home and details of how to seek help if any symptoms develop.

Hi,
I just had a laparoscopy a week ago for the same reason. My surgeon said if I passed wind and opened bowels,then it's unlikely that my bowels were injured during the procedure. Mine was more diagnostic rather than treatment, so less likely to have complications.
How are you feeling now?Have you managed to pass some wind yet?When I was being consented for the operation , the surgeon did say if the bowels were injured, they might have to open me up to fix it. If that hasn't happened to you, I guess the injury must be minor like they said. Try not to worry too much. I wish you a speedy recovery 🙏

it sounds like they’re being very sensible but that they’re not really expecting much of a problem. It’d be worth double checking what symptoms they’d be worried about (eg. abdo pain, temperatures, change in bowels, etc). Also worth checking how to get support (who to call) if you develop symptoms between being discharged and being seen again on Monday so you get to the right person first time. Wouldn’t bother with asking for things like ultrasounds as suggested by pp - it wouldn’t be the right test if you did have symptoms (and there would normally be some free gas and fluid after a laparoscopy).

Agree with @Greybeardy investigatuons suggested up thread are pointless. There will always be air/fluid after laparoscopy.

Plan seems sensible to me (anaesthetist).

Thanks so much all this is very reassuring 🙏🏼

Thank you, i wasn’t sure but thought it was a question worth asking and would have been reassured if they’d said no point due to xyz.