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Laparoscopy Problems
Major laparoscopy problems usually occur in less than 1 out of every 100 surgeries. Some minor problems can include nausea, burns, and minor bleeding. Major problems with laparoscopy include blood clots, blood vessel injury, and, in rare cases, a blood transfusion or an additional surgery. However, you are more likely to develop a serious complication if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
No surgery is completely free of risks. However, laparoscopy has been done for many years with good results and few complications or problems.
Possible minor problems with laparoscopy can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Minor infections
- Minor bleeding
- Bruising or a collection of blood at the incision site
- Burns on the skin
- Abnormal or painful scar formation
- Allergic skin reaction to tape, dressings, or latex
- Delayed return of bowel and/or bladder function.
In most cases, if these minor problems do occur, they are temporary and your healthcare provider can take care of them easily.
There are also some major laparoscopy problems; however, these don't occur very often. Your health may play a role in whether or not some of these problems happen. For example, people who have severe heart disease, diabetes, are overweight, use tobacco, have had other surgeries on their abdomen, or have kidney or lung disease have a higher chance of problems with laparoscopy than those who are healthier. Your health may also be an important factor in how well your body heals if any of these problems do occur.
Possible major problems with laparoscopy may include but are not limited to:
- Serious bleeding
- Serious infection
- Organ damage, including the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, bladder, and/or ureters
- Damage to the intestines, including a perforation or a hole in its lining, or a burn injury
- Blood vessel injury
- Blood clots
- Nerve injury
- Hernias, which may include a rupture of the incision or the diaphragm
- Complications from the air placed in the abdomen, such as air going into a blood vessel or the space outside the lungs
- Reactions to medication or anesthesia
- Other rare and unlikely events.
Depending on the individual situation, a major problem could lead to a longer hospital stay, a blood transfusion, or a repeat surgery. This could also lead to immediate major abdominal surgery, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus), or, in rare instances, placement of a colostomy. In extreme cases, other major risks may lead to permanent disability, paralysis, or loss of life.
Major laparoscopy problems, however, occur in less than 1 in 100 laparoscopies. In the United States, loss of life from a laparoscopy occurs in less than 5 out of 100,000 laparoscopies. Therefore, a laparoscopy is about six times safer than driving a car and about two to three times safer than being pregnant.
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD