Prevalence of Intraoperative Complications in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia for Laparoscopic Surgeries

Abstract

Background: Intraoperative complications during laparoscopic surgery remain a significant clinical challenge, with patient outcomes strongly influenced by intraoperative physiological stability. Although several studies have identified risk factors, the precise contribution of vital sign deviations under general anesthesia remains inadequately defined. Objective: To evaluate the association between intraoperative blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and CO₂ levels with complication rates among adults undergoing laparoscopic surgery under general anesthesia, and to assess the influence of age, gender, pain, and recovery scores. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Lahore over six months. Consecutive adult patients (n=100) undergoing elective or emergency laparoscopic procedures under general anesthesia were included. Physiological variables and perioperative data were prospectively collected and analyzed using SPSS. Group-wise complication rates were compared using Chi-square tests and ANOVA; significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Normal intraoperative physiological parameters were associated with significantly lower complication rates (blood pressure 19.6%, p=0.03; heart rate 23.5%, p=0.05; oxygen 16.7%, p=0.01; CO₂ 17.1%, p=0.03), while abnormal values markedly increased risk. Complications were more frequent in older age groups, females, and those with lower Aldrete scores or greater pain (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Maintaining normal intraoperative physiological parameters is crucial to reducing complication risk in laparoscopic surgery. Targeted monitoring and management strategies are warranted for high-risk groups to enhance surgical outcomes.