title: Complications in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: results of a multicentre trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present a prospective observational multicentre study of 4834 consecutive cases undergoing laparoscopic colorectal procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was initiated on 1 August 1995, with centres from Germany, Austria and Switzerland participating. All patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery were included, and no selection criteria were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between August 1995 and April 2004, the participating centres treated 4834 patients. Three thousand, one hundred and sixty-six operations were performed for benign indications, and 1668 for cancer, with most operations being done for diverticulitis (2019, 41.8%). The conversion rate was 5.6%, and the overall morbidity was 20.1%. Intra-operative complications occurred in 5.9%, postoperative complications in 14.0%, and the overall anastomotic leak rate was 3.1% (colon 2.6%, rectum 11.9%). The 30-day mortality rate was 1.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It has been our experience that laparoscopic surgery for colorectal disease is safe. Morbidity and mortality are comparable to those of conventional colorectal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Siloah Clinic Hannover, Roesebeckstrasse 15, D-30499 Hannover, Germany. joerg.rose.siloah@klinikum-hannover.de
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geers
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheidbach
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Köckerling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis