Correction to: Assessing organic material on single‑use vessel sealing devices: a comparative study of reprocessed and new LigaSure™ devices

Correction to: Surgical Endoscopy (2021) 35:4539–4549 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-020-07969-8

The following adjustments should be made to the original article:

• 1. In the “Methods and procedures, Study design” section, the third sentence:

“A total of 84 reprocessed devices were procured. An equal number of new devices were then provided by the original equipment manufacturer”

should be replaced with:

“A total of 84 reprocessed devices spanning 29 unique lot numbers were procured by the study sponsor and provided to the authors. An equal number of new devices spanning 19 lot numbers were then provided by the original equipment manufacturer. All devices tested in this study were provided by the study sponsor (Medtronic) due to their ability to obtain them cost-effectively from a variety of lot numbers. The validity of all methods, results and conclusions presented in this work are unaffected by the origin reprocessed devices. All devices were provided to the authors in the original sterile packaging that was inspected for damage as part of the test protocol.”

• 2. In the “Methods and procedures, Sterility testing” section, the first sentence:

“After visualizing thick, red soiling on numerous reprocessed devices, a total of 165 reprocessed LigaSure^TM devices were sent for sterility testing at an independent facility (Nelson Labs, Salt Lake City, UT). “

should be replaced with:

“After visualizing thick, red soiling on numerous reprocessed devices, a total of 165 reprocessed LigaSure™ devices, spanning 66 lot numbers, were sent for sterility testing at an independent facility (Nelson Labs, Salt Lake City, UT) by the study sponsor. The study sponsor provided all final reports and test protocol details surrounding sterility testing to the authors for analysis. Covidien sent the 165 devices (spanning 66 lot numbers) directly to Nelson labs for sterility testing where they were aseptically cut down, as described in the sterility testing portion of the methods and procedures section of the article (line 1). Covidien provided sterility protocol information and formal test reports from Nelson labs to the University of Colorado.

• 3. In the “Results, Visual Inspection” section, end of paragraph 1: we would like to add the following:

“Soiling visible to the naked eye on disassembled, reprocessed devices span 25 of the 29 lot numbers examined.”

• 4. In the “Funding section”: we would like to add the following information:

For the entirety of this study, the University of Colorado, the Department of Bioengineering and the authors assumed all parties involved acted in accordance with established ethical standards of scientific objectivity and rigor. A statement of work (SOW), addenda to the SOW, and a data transfer agreement (DTA) between the University of Colorado and the parent company of Covidien, Medtronic, bound the relationship between the authors and Covidien. The authors of this study proposed and drafted all milestones, schedules and plans laid out in the SOW and subsequent addenda while University and Medtronic legal teams worked together on the terms of the agreement.