ABSTRACT
Surgeons who perform laparoscopy must be aware of the potential events and take appropriate action when necessary. Cardiac arrhythmias may occur in as many as 47% of patients who undergo laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is associated with a morbidity rate between 2% and 10%, depending on the type of operation and the experience of the surgeon. The overall mortality rate associated with intestinal injury during laparoscopy is approximately 3%–5%. Studies related to the learning curve of laparoscopy demonstrate that operative times and conversion rates are increased during the first 20–250 cases depending on the procedure. In patients with massive splenomegaly or complicated anatomy, the surgeon should consider hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy, which conveys the benefits of laparoscopy without sacrificing safety or efficacy. When surgeon experience and facility resources allow, laparoscopy may offer the advantages of less pain, fewer wound-related complications, shorter hospital length of stay, and other benefits.
