What are some of the risks associated with Laparoscopic Surgery?

Although we take every precaution to get you through the surgery safe and sound, no surgery is without risks. Please take a moment to have a look at the following information as you prepare for your surgery. A general principal is that the risk of complications depend on the complexity of the operation.

While it is not practical to discuss every possible complication of surgery during the consent process, the following list covers the main potential risks and complications associated with any form of surgery:

Risks associated with general anesthesia

Wound infection

Bleeding- at entry wound or at the site of surgery

Blood transfusion - if bleeding is severe and life-threatening, blood transfusion may be required. NOTE: If you are against blood transfusion, you must make this clear in writing to the surgeon and anaesthetist and nursing staff before consenting for surgery.

Incisional or port site hernias(1.9-3.2%)

Blood clots – Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism

Injury to abdominal wall blood vessels

Injury to internal abdominal and pelvic organs: bowels(0.3-0.18%), bladder(0.5%), ureter(0.04-0.2%), blood vessels(0.01%). This may occur during surgery or may present some time after surgery. These complications may mean further surgery for correction of the injury. In the case of a bladder or ureter injury, this may mean the use of an urinary catheter. In the case of bowel injury, this may result in leakage of bowel contents, peritonitis, septicaemia. Corrective surgery for bowel leakage may require the use of diversion of bowel contents to external bag (ileostomy or colostomy), and re-operation later on.

Conversion to open surgery (laparotomy) in case of unexpected life-threatening complications or findings such as malignancy.

This information is not meant to make you nervous but due to the complex nature of some of the surgeries we do, it is made clear in the interest of informed consent and for you to partner with us in the decisions going forward.