Complications after gastrointestinal surgery

Laparoscopic colon resection for both benign and malignant diseases is associated with lower postoperative complications and better short-term outcomes than open surgery. Some postoperative complications, such as bowel perforation secondary to missed intraoperative damage and trocar site hernias, though rare, are typical for laparoscopic colon surgery. Th e incidence of prolonged postoperative ileus and adhesive small bowel obstruction is lower after minimally invasive surgery, whereas the rate of anastomotic leakage is similar. Th e last 10 years have witnessed a progressive shift towards a less-invasive approach to patients experiencing postoperative surgical morbidity. Th e aim of this chapter is to illustrate the diff erent management modalities to treat surgical complications of laparoscopic colon surgery.