Laparoscopic Diagnosis And Treatment Of Postoperative Complications

BACKGROUND: There is no unequivocal attitude to a laparoscopy as to the means in the diagnosis and treatment of postoperative surgical complications. Our study sought to determine the role of laparoscopy in the management Of Suspected postoperative complications.METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the patients who underwent laparoscopy for complications of previous Surgery over a 6-year period.RESULTS: Sixty-four patients underwent laparoscopy for complications during the study period including 49 laparoscopies, 14 laparotomies, and 1 endoscopic procedure. The median delay between operations was 2 +/- 4.5 days. In 18 (28.1%) patients, laparoscopy did not find intra-abdominal pathology. The conversion to open surgery was necessary in 9 (14.1%) patients. Seven patients underwent more than 1 relaparoscopy. No cases of misdiagnosis were observed. Morbidity was 12.5%. There was no laparoscopy-related death.CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is an effective tool for the management of postoperative complications after open and laparoscopic surgery. It avoids diagnostic delay and unnecessary laparotomy. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.