Background: Postsurgical complication considers highly common for both
patients and surgical teams. The complication depends on multi factor related
to the patient health profile and the experience of the surgeon along with
operation state emergency or elective. Objectives: We aimed to assess the rate
and incidence of postoperative complications during the first 24 hours after
general surgery in the Saudi population and to identify the key predictors for
early post-operative complications. Methods: A retrospective record review
was conducted from case files of 1,005 patients who underwent laparoscopic,
open and conversion-approach surgeries at King Abdul- Aziz University
Hospital. Results: Most of the surgical procedures conducted in the general
surgery department as open approach sub-type (n=583, 58.3%) while
laparoscopic surgeries were the second most common (n=327, 32.7%). The
open approach was the most significant approach it was more common
among patients with diabetes (p<0.017, n=166). The most common
postoperative complications related to the open approach were post-op
constipation (p<0.005, n=119), neurological complications (p<0.039, n=10) and
surgical site complications (p<0.014, n=1). The post-operative complications in
the laparoscopic approach as post-op constipation (p<0.004, n=72) and surgical
site complications (p<0.032, n=72). In diabetes, post-operative surgical
complications (p<0.002, n=7), surgical site complications and neurological
complications (p<0.003, n=6) are common. Conclusion: The open approach has
been more affected than laparoscopic in our study by the risk factors related to
comorbidity in Saudi Arabian patients. Need to assess the post-operative
complication state combined with the newer minimally invasive surgical
procedures as multicenter studies..
Keywords: Postoperative complications, open approach, laparoscopic
approach, infection
