Complications of Laparoscopic Surgery

The preceding chapters in this text confirm how far laparoscopic surgery has progressed in the last four years. The complexity of laparoscopic procedures now being done attests to the dexterity, safety record, and ingenuity of the pioneers in this field. Basic and advanced laparoscopic surgery is safe but not risk-free. The rates of major and minor complications range from 0.5 to 5%. Mortality rates of gynecologic laparoscopic procedures are less than 0.1%.1–3 These rates may decrease but complications will not be eliminated. Awareness and understanding of the manner in which complications develop may reduce their occurrence. This chapter will summarize the major complications of newer laparoscopic procedures as well as those relating to the index operation, laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Many of the complications cited have been noted, analyzed, and corrected by laparoscopic gynecologists. They spared the general surgeons who later became interested much effort. These specialists have not received the credit they are due.