Complications of operative laparoscopy

Objective To assess the incidence and type of laparoscopic complications. Design A series of 1649 operative laparoscopies were reviewed in a retrospe ctive study of patient records. Setting A tertiary care university hospital. Interventions Operative laparoscopy including minor procedures (minimal adh esiolysis, destruction of minimal endometriosis foci, ovarian biopsy, ovari an puncture, tubal sterilization); major laparoscopic surgery (extended adh esiolysis, tuboplasties, uterine suspension, treatment for ectopic pregnanc y, salpingitis, ovarian cyst, moderate and severe endometriosis), and advan ced laparoscopic surgery (hysterectomy, myomectomy, bladder neck suspension ). Results There was one major vascular complication, two intestinal injuries, one anaesthesiological complication and two urinary tract injuries. In add ition there were two minor and five postoperative complications. The overal l complication rate was 13/1649 (0.8%). The major complication rate was 6/1 649 (0.36%). Conclusions This review has been useful in helping surgeons to reduce the r isk of injuries and to inform patients about possible complications. These rates were similar to those that have been previously reported.