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Updated: Aug 25, 2026
Surgical Techniques to Optimize Ovarian Reserve during Laparoscopic Cystectomy for Ovarian Endometrioma
Published on: January 22, 2022
Complications of laparoscopic surgery for benign ovarian cysts
I H Lok1, D S Sahota, M S Rogers
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT., Hong Kong SAR, China.
Study Objective:
To assess complications of laparoscopic surgery in the management of ovarian cysts.
Design:
Prospective observational study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).
Setting:
University-affiliated hospital.
Patients:
Consecutive patients (513) undergoing laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cysts not suspected to be malignant.
Intervention:
Laparoscopic surgery.
Measurements And Main Results:
A total of 587 ovarian cysts were removed from 513 women. Conversion to laparotomy was necessary in five cases (<1%). Mean +/- SD cyst diameter was 5.5+/-2.9 cm, with endometriomas (44. 5%) and dermoids (24.3%) being the two most common pathologies; 6.6% were functional. Mean +/- SD operating time was 69+/-31 minutes, and hospital stay and postoperative convalescence was 2.6+/-1.5 and 14.3 +/-9.6 days, respectively. The overall complication rate was 13.3%. Major complications occurred in three patients (0.6%): one small bowel injury and two ureter injuries. Cannula site complications were five inferior epigastric vessel injuries and four incisional hernias at the 10-mm lateral port site.
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic ovarian surgery was associated with 13.3% complications, with 0.6% being major. Careful patient selection and proper surgical training are critical to ensure safe performance of laparoscopy.
