F A C T  S H E E T

For information contact:
Joni Morford, Communicore
714/721-8081
jmorford@communicore.com


PREVENTING LAPAROSCOPIC ELECTROSURGICAL INJURY


Facts About Minimally Invasive Surgery and Monopolar Electrosurgical Technique

* Minimally invasive surgery is estimated to account for 15 percent of all surgeries 
that take place each year in the United States

* Minimally invasive surgery is expected to account for 40 percent of all urological, 
50 percent of all general, and 70 percent of all gynecological procedures by the year 
2000 

* Monopolar electrosurgery is regarded by 80 percent of surgeons as the most 
effective technique available for cutting and coagulation (clotting) of tissue during 
minimally invasive surgery

* Due to a limited field of vision during minimally invasive surgery, surgeons 
cannot see 90 percent of the live electrode during monopolar electrosurgery

* Monopolar electrosurgery has the potential to cause unintended electrical burn 
injuries to surrounding non-targeted tissues and organs


Facts About Minimally Invasive Electrosurgical Injury

* Burns to non-targeted sites caused by stray electrical energy during monopolar 
electrosurgery can cause peritonitis, organ perforation, hemorrhaging, and death

* Since burns usually occur outside of the surgeon's field of view through the 
laparoscope, they can go undetected until days after surgery, when serious burns 
may have caused severe infection requiring emergency treatment

* Additional surgery is the most common treatment for electrosurgical injury

* A survey of surgeons at the American College of Surgeons annual meeting in 1993 
reported that 18 percent of the 506 surgeons polled responded that they had 
personally experienced complications during minimally invasive surgery due to the 
release of stray electrical energy, and 54 percent knew of another surgeon who had


Facts About Legal Liability Associated with Minimally Invasive Electrosurgery

* Of the 1 million minimally invasive procedures conducted in 1993, 600 patients 
claimed injury; 35 of these injuries led to patient death, many from perforated 
bowels

* In 70 percent of laparoscopic malpractice claims, injuries are not detected until 
after the patient goes home from surgery

* Since 1985, $385 million in jury awards have been paid to patients injured during 
minimally invasive surgery 

* The average indemnity per case was $130,000


Facts about ElectroScope's Electroshield Monitoring System¨

* ElectroScope's Electroshield Monitoring System¨ is the only available product that 
completely eliminates the risk of injury due to stray electrical energy during 
monopolar electrosurgery

* The Electroshield Monitoring System is "transparent" to the user and requires 
minimal additional training for surgeon or staff

* Electroshield instruments are priced comparably to other manufacturers' reusable 
instruments, and on a cost-per-use basis are less expensive than disposable electrodes

* The Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI), an independent, non-profit 
research agency that reviews and tests medical devices, has recommended the 
Electroshield Monitoring System as the highest level protection available against 
patient injury due to insulation failure and capacitive coupling


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