[Severe complications in diagnostic laparoscopy. 9 years experience in 747 examinations].

BACKGROUND

Despite the introduction of non-invasive imaging procedures, diagnostic laparoscopy is still indicated in suspected liver cirrhoses, cancer staging and ascites or fever of unknown origin. Although the use of laparoscopy decreased over the last decade, some centers still have much experience and their complication rates are of special interest.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The complication rate of 747 patients undergoing a diagnostic laparoscopy in our clinic during the last 9 years is listed retrospectively, and the respective therapy is examined.

RESULTS

Severe complications were found in 11 cases (1.5%): 6 bleeding complications, 2 bowel perforations and 3 other complications. Five of these 11 patients had to be operated on (45%). One patient with metastatic gastric cancer died of a multiple organic failure following a lararoscopic tumor biopsy (0.13%).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic laparoscopy is of significant value and has still a low complication-rate in centers with special experience.