Complications and conversions in laparoscopic colorectal surgery: results of a multicenter Brazilian trial

This multicentric national registry reports the experience of 16 Brazilian surgical teams in laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Between 1992 and 2001, 1966 patients (941 men [47.8%] and 1025 women [52.1%]) were operated on, with ages ranging from 1 to 94 years (average, 55.9 years). Benign diseases were diagnosed in 1170 patients (59.5%). There were 82 (4.2%) reported intraoperative complications (range, 2.0-9.8%), 209 (10.6%) conversions to laparotomy (range, 1.4-23.5%), and 383 (19.4%) postoperative complications (8.0-29.6%). Mortality occurred in 29 patients (1.5%). During the early experience (first 50 operated patients in each surgical team), there were more intraoperative complications (8.1% x 1.7%), conversions (16.6% x 6.8%) and postoperative complications (25% x 16%). After an average follow-up of 26.5 months, 91 tumor recurrences (13.8%) were reported (0.45% parietal recurrences). There was no incisional recurrence in the ports used to withdraw the pathologic specimen. The Brazilian experience is significant, with complication and mortality rates similar to those reported in literature. The results indicate that experience reduces complication and mortality rates. Oncological results are satisfactory and the incidence of parietal recurrence is low and similar to other series.