Major and Minor Complications of Laparoscopic Surgery following Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has become a preferred minimally invasive option for colorectal cancer treatment due to its numerous advantages over traditional open surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer at the National Institute for Cancer Research and Hospital (NICR&H) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Material & Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted from September 2018 to October 2019 in the Department of Surgical Oncology at NICR&H. The study included 39 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic surgery. Data were collected prospectively from medical records, including demographic information, clinical characteristics, surgical details, and short-term postoperative outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows, with categorical data expressed as numbers and percentages and continuous data as means and standard deviations. Results: The study comprised 23 males (58.97%) and 16 females (41.03%). Most participants had primary education (51.28%) and were housewives (41.03%). A family history of cancer was reported by 25.64% of participants. The most common chief complaint was per-rectal bleeding (48.72%). Colonoscopy findings included ulcer proliferative lesions in 64.10% of patients. The most frequent minor complication was urinary tract infection (30.77%), while surgery conversion (12.82%) was the most common major complication. Other major complications included hemorrhage, respiratory distress, internal hemorrhage, intra-abdominal abscess, acute renal failure, and postoperative mortality, each occurring in 2.56% of patients. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in Bangladesh demonstrates significant benefits, including reduced postoperative pain and quicker recovery times, despite certain minor and major complications. These findings support the broader adoption of laparoscopic techniques in similar healthcare settings to improve patient outcomes.