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Posts Tagged ‘Complications’

What are the complications of laparoscopic surgery?

Like any surgery laparoscopy has the potential risk of anaesthesia and operation. Although laparoscopy causes less tissue injury then its open counterpart but it is wrong to say that it is totally risk free operation. Complications of laparoscopy may be categorized according to the various phases of the operation. Problems related to induction of the pneumoperitoneum and insertion of the laparoscope includes cardiac arrhythmias, perforation of a hollow viscus, and puncture of a solid organ, bleeding, and subcutaneous emphysema. In most reported series, complications of laparoscopic surgeries are minor and occur with a frequency of 1-5%, and the mortality rate is approximately 0.05%.

What is the most common complication after laparoscopic surgery?

Infection is the most common complication of any surgical procedure. In laparoscopic surgery rate of infection is very less than open surgery but many statistical studies show that infection is still the most common complication after laparoscopic surgery. This complication is not related to the laparoscopic technique itself but depends on the sterilization and theatre environment of the hospital. The Injury to the bowel is the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality after laparoscopic surgery.

What are the complications specific to laparoscopic technique?

The Injury to bowel and blood vessels is specially related to the technique of laparoscopic surgery.  There is a small risk of complications that include injury to the abdominal organs, intestines, urinary bladder or blood vessels. If the surgeon is not experienced than he can perforate an innocent bowel with the long pointed instruments of laparoscopic surgery. If complication is severe an additional operation may be required with a larger incision to either stop bleeding or repair an injury that cannot be fixed by laparoscopy. In case of infection and other mild complication short course of appropriate antibiotic is sufficient to overcome the problem. In experienced hands, complications may occur but are not frequent. Patient safety should be surgeon’s strongest concern.  Read more...