COMPLICATIONS OF LAPAROSCOPIC PROCEDURES IN UROLOGY: EXPERIENCE WITH 2,407 PROCEDURES AT 4 GERMAN CENTERS

AbstractPurpose: The 4 most active centers of the laparoscopy working group of the German Urologic Association collected data about the complications associated with laparoscopic surgery in urology.Materials and Methods: At 4 centers 2,407 laparoscopies or retroperitoneoscopies were performed as of May 1998, including 776 for varicocelectomy, 259 for cryptorchidism, 481 for pelvic lymph node dissection, 351 for nephrectomy/heminephrectomy renal pathology, 139 for renal cyst resection, 58 for ureteral procedures, 44 for adrenalectomy, 41 for nephropexy, 41 for lymphocele fenestration, 40 for retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy and 187 for other operations. The complications were evaluated, listed according to the anatomical specificity and grouped with respect to the surgical step during laparoscopy.Results: A total of 107 complications (4.4%) occurred. The re-intervention rate was 0.8% and the mortality rate was 0.08%. The complication rate depended on the difficulty of the procedure and averaged ...