Complications of gynecological laparoscopy: experience of a single center.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and type of laparoscopic complications seen in a teaching hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and forty-one diagnostic and operative laparoscopic procedures were performed by the same senior resident/resident surgical team. Direct entry technique was used for all procedures. RESULTS: The procedures included 74 (16.8%) diagnostic and 367 (83.2%) operative laparoscopies. The overall complication rate was 7.7% (34 cases). Conversion to laparotomy occurred in 16 cases (3.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The complication rate was found to be slightly higher than the rates quoted in the literature. This rate of 7.7% is still an acceptable one.