Major complications of operative gynecologic laparoscopy in southern Taiwan

Study Objective. To describe our experience with major complications in gyn ecologic laparoscopy compared with literature reports. Design, Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). Setting. Two regional teaching hospitals in southern Taiwan. Patients, One thousand five hundred seven women. Intervention. Gynecologic laparoscopy. Measurements and Main Results. The overall number of major complications in 1507 laparoscopies was 24 (1.6%): 6 bladder injuries, 5 bowel injuries, 4 ureteral injuries, 3 cases of delayed vaginal stump bleeding, 2 cases of po st-operative ileus, 2 abscesses, 1 vessel injury, and 1 umbilical hernia. C omplication rates were analyzed by type of surgery-laparoscopic-assisted va ginal hysterectomy (LAVH) versus non-LAVH. We con-elated clinical outcome w ith time of recognition and treatment of complications. Our complication ra tes were similar to those reported in the literature and were not significa ntly different between LAVH and non-LAVH. Conclusion. Early recognition of injuries, preferably intraoperatively, wit h immediate appropriate treatment is crucial. it is also important to be al ert to early manifestations of complications in the postoperative observati on period.