Comparative Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes, Postoperative Complications, and Length of Hospital Stay Following Laparoscopic versus Open General Surgical Procedures: A Prospective Observational Study

DOI: https://doi.org/10.66715/ijcgs.xyz6 | Original Research | 2026 | Volume 2 | Issue 1 | Page 99-109

1. Dr. Narendra Sharma, Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Dr. Rajendra Gode Medical College and Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra. Orcid id- https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9971-0569

2. Dr. Manoj Kumar, Tutor, Department of Physiology, JHMCRI-West-Bengal

Comparative Evaluation of Clinical Outcomes, Postoperative Complications, and Length of Ho.

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Corresponding Author

Dr. Narendra Sharma, Lecturer,

Department of Anatomy,

Dr. Rajendra Gode Medical College and 

Hospital, Amravati, Maharashtra.

Abstract

Background: Minimally invasive surgery has transformed the practice of general surgery by offering potential advantages over conventional open procedures, including reduced postoperative pain, faster recovery, and shorter hospitalization. However, comparative evaluation of clinical outcomes across diverse general surgical procedures remains essential to support evidence-based surgical decision-making.

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay between patients undergoing laparoscopic and open general surgical procedures.

Methods: This prospective observational study included 120 adult patients undergoing elective general surgical procedures at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients were allocated into two groups according to the surgical approach: laparoscopic surgery (n = 60) and open surgery (n = 60). Demographic characteristics, operative duration, postoperative pain assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), time to ambulation, postoperative complications (including surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, ileus, and pulmonary complications), and duration of hospital stay were recorded. Comparative statistical analyses were performed using the independent t-test and Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The laparoscopic group demonstrated significantly lower postoperative pain scores (VAS 3.1 ± 1.0 vs. 5.6 ± 1.3, p < 0.001), earlier ambulation (18.4 ± 5.2 vs. 31.7 ± 7.5 hours, p < 0.001), and shorter hospital stay (3.4 ± 1.1 vs. 6.2 ± 1.8 days, p < 0.001). Overall postoperative complications occurred in 10.0% of laparoscopic cases compared with 26.7% of open surgeries (p = 0.021), with surgical site infections being significantly lower in the laparoscopic group.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic general surgical procedures were associated with superior postoperative recovery, fewer complications, reduced postoperative pain, and significantly shorter hospital stay compared with open surgery. Whenever clinically feasible and technically appropriate, the laparoscopic approach may be considered the preferred surgical modality to improve patient outcomes and optimize healthcare resource utilization.

Keywords: Laparoscopic surgery, Open surgery, General surgery, Postoperative complications, Hospital stay, Clinical outcomes, Prospective observational study.