Post Laparoscopic Complications: A One-Year Prospective Study at Al-Karma Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Laparoscopic surgery has significantly transformed surgical practices by offering minimally invasive alternatives to traditional open procedures. Despite its many advantages, including reduced hospital stays, faster recovery times, and better cosmetic outcomes, laparoscopic surgery is not devoid of complications. The increasing adoption of laparoscopic techniques across various surgical specialties has been accompanied by a rise in complications, often due to insufficient training or experience among surgeons. This prospective observational study aimed to identify the most common early (within 2 weeks) and late (beyond 2 weeks) post-laparoscopic complications among 120 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic procedures—including cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and ovarian cystectomy—at Al-Karma Teaching Hospital over a one-year period. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, clinical follow-ups, and direct communication with patients and operating surgeons. Out of 120 patients, 14 developed complications (11.6%). Early complications occurred in 12 patients (10%), including pain (4%), infection (3%), nausea/vomiting (0.8%), hemorrhage (0.8%), and bile leak (0.8%). Late complications were observed in 2 patients (1.6%), namely incisional hernia (0.8%) and recurrence of symptoms (0.8%). All complications were successfully managed conservatively or surgically, with no mortality reported, Pain and wound infection were the most frequently encountered complications aligning with findings from other studies, These results underscore the importance of proper surgical technique, adequate training, and close postoperative monitoring in minimizing complications associated with laparoscopic surgery.