ASSESSING THE OUTCOMES OF LAPAROSCOPIC GENERAL SURGERY IN PAKISTAN: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY meerhasni161@gmail.com

 

ASSESSING THE OUTCOMES OF LAPAROSCOPIC GENERAL SURGERY IN PAKISTAN: A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY

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Pakistan

Oral only

Laparoscopic surgery, known for its minimally invasive approach, reduced postoperative complications, and faster recovery, has revolutionized general surgical procedures globally. Despite its advantages, widespread adoption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Pakistan remains limited due to systemic and infrastructural challenges

A retrospective review was conducted on 200 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic surgeries—cholecystectomy (50%), appendectomy (30%), and hernia repair (20%)—at tertiary care hospitals in karachi between June 2024 and June 2025. Patient demographics, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes, and predictors of complications were assessed. Statistical analysis, including logistic regression, was performed using SPSS version 27.

The mean patient age was 44.2 ± 11.8 years, with an average BMI of 27.9 ± 3.7 kg/m². Intraoperative complications occurred in 11% of cases, with bleeding (3.5%) being the most frequent. Conversion to open surgery was required in 4% of patients. Postoperative complications were observed in 12% of cases, with wound infection (4.5%) and seroma formation (3.5%) being the most common. Patients who developed complications had significantly longer hospital stays (average 4.9 ± 1.4 days, p<0.01). Logistic regression identified BMI >30 kg/m² (OR: 2.3), operative time exceeding 90 minutes (OR: 2.8), and ASA class III or above (OR: 1.9) as independent predictors of postoperative complications.

Laparoscopic general surgery in Pakistan demonstrates safety and efficiency outcomes comparable to international benchmarks. However, enhancing access and outcomes will require focused efforts on surgeon training, institutional capacity building, and preoperative patient optimization.