Editorial Comment

Abstract

The authors present their single-institution experience with failures in the insulating silicone covers for the robotic monopolar cautery scissors. This study included 454 robot-assisted procedures (urological and nonurological) that were performed over a 7-month period. A 2.6% accessory cover failure rate was observed. Most importantly, such instrument malfunction led to 3 significant intraoperative complications, including one external iliac vein injury, one small bowel cautery burn, and one distal ureteral cautery injury.