title: Major complications during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may lead to serious complications, some of which can be disastrous if they are not recognized and managed immediately. Over the past 12-year period, 1225 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. Totally, major complications occurred in 19 cases (1.5%). The conversion rate was 7.4%. Complications included common bile duct injury in 2 cases (0.16%), vessel injury by trocar or Veress needle in 4 cases (0.32%) including 1 case of aorta injury (0.08%), bleeding from the gallbladder bed or the cystic artery in 10 cases (0.8%), bile leak in 1 case (0.08%), duodenum injury in 1 case (0.08%), and transient liver ischemia in 1 thalassanemic patient (0.08%). The complication was recognized during the operation in 11 cases. Reoperation was necessary in five cases (0.4%), and conservative management was applied in three cases. Although infrequent, major complications may occur during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Immediate recognition and management is critical and may lead to a safe outcome.
authors.affiliation: Second Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Medical School, Aristotle University, Hippocration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Marakis
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ballas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aimoniotou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Psarras
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karvounaris
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafailidis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demertzidis
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sakantamis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D004386:Duodenum / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome