Anesthesia related complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of intraoperative anesthesia-related complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

DESIGN

A descriptive study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

The study was conducted in Anesthesia Department of Hayat Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from April 1995 to April 1996.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

One hundred consecutive patients (ASA I and ASA II) were anesthetized and monitored intraoperatively for detection of complications. The operative findings and data were recorded on a proforma and finally the results were analyzed.

RESULTS

One hundred patients with male to female ratio of 1: 8.09 in the age range of 20-80 years (mean 39 years) underwent general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The duration of operation in 94 laparoscopic cholecystectomy was from 20 to 80 minutes (mean 60.63 minutes ).The incidence of intraoperative hypotension was 9%. Four percent of the patients developed arrhythmias. Increase in end-tidal-carbon dioxide (ETCO2) was observed in 3% of cases. Conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 6%. Damage to intraabdominal vessels with trocar insertion occurred in 1% of cases.

CONCLUSION

Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy has major surgical and anesthetic advantages, there are anesthesia related complications requiring specific anesthetic interventions to improve patients outcome without compromising their safety.