Complications of hand-assisted laparoscopic urologic surgery

Since the first urologic case was reported in 1997, hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery (HALS) has proven to be useful for both the experienced and the inexperienced laparoscopic surgeon. In a recent series of 196 cases at three major medical institutions, 18 patients (9.2%) suffered 32 major complications, and 28 patients (14.3%) had 31 minor complications. The most common major complications were small-bowel injury, requirement for open conversion to control bleeding, and need for reintubation. The most frequent minor complications were urinary retention, splenic capsular injury, and prolonged ileus. The author discusses ways of recognizing and managing the complications of HALS, including physiologic, access-related, intraoperative, and post-operative problems.