Avoiding and managing complications in gynaecological surgery

The role of the surgeon is no longer confined to selecting and performing an operative procedure. Increasing emphasis is placed on the role of pre-operative risk reduction strategies and patient counselling, which can minimize intra-operative events and post-operative morbidity. Complications can still occur, as all types of surgery involve a level of unpredictability and risk, and it is important that surgeons are able to recognize when problems have arisen. It is also becoming ever more important that allied surgical specialities are involved without delay if injuries are sustained to areas outside their surgical remit. This update focuses on recommendations for pre-operative risk assessment and methods for approaching complications in benign gynaecological surgery.