Objective: Laparoscopic techniques are evolving for a wide range of surgical procedures outside the biliary tree. We describe the CT findings of important complications detected after nonbiliary laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery and the role of CT in their management.
Materials and methods: Over a 3-year period, 209 patients had nonbiliary gastrointestinal laparoscopic procedures (partial or total colectomy, splenectomy, Nissen fundoplication, lymph-node dissection, herniorrhaphy, appendectomy, and exploratory laparoscopy). Thirty-seven abdominopelvic CT studies were performed on 18 (9%) of these patients for complications after surgery. In all cases CT findings were reviewed and correlated with follow-up surgical, clinical, or interventional radiologic findings.
Results: Fourteen major complications were detected on CT in 12 of 18 (67%) patients who had undergone partial or total colectomy (6/25, 24%), splenectomy (4/41, 10%), appendectomy (1/15, 7%), or lymph-node dissection (1/43, 2%). These complications included seven abscesses (three of the splenic bed, two of the pelvis, one of the liver, and one of the abdominal wall). The remaining complications were four hematomas (two in the abdominal wall caused by trocar site bleeding, one intraperitoneal, and one retroperitoneal), one case of colon perforation, one case of pancreatitis, and one case of splenic infarction. Percutaneous abscess drainage was performed successfully in seven patients, using CT guidance in six. Six patients had negative CT studies.
Conclusion: Major complications may occur after complex nonbiliary laparoscopic procedures and are probably related to lack of experience with new surgical techniques. In this study, such complications occurred most often after laparoscopic colectomy and splenectomy. CT valuable in their diagnosis and in the management of abscess collections.