2010 Volume 26 Issue 2 Pages 473-476
We report a case of rivet damage to a claw-forceps used with an electric morcellator during a laparoscopic myomectomy.
The claw-forceps was purchased on 30 March 2007. We noticed the dropout of a rivet's head of a claw-forceps during a laparoscopic surgery study meeting in the operating room on 25 October 2007. The claw-forceps was used from the time of purchase to awareness of the defect after 14 laparoscopic myomectomies. When we reviewed the operative videos all 14 cases, the rivet's head possibly dropped out in one of seven cases. We looked for the rivet's head with abdominal X-rays for the seven cases. However, it turned out that there were no foreign objects in the abdomens of any of the patients.
The period of use for reusable claw-forceps is 1 year or 30 cases, but our instrument did not reach the period of use. Thus, confirmation of medical equipment in proper working order is very important before and after surgery. Of course, confirmation intra-operatively is also important. The durability of reusable medical equipment changes with the method used and the duration of use. It is important to study the durability of reusable medical equipment. It is also more important that we are aware that delicate medical equipment is breakable.
