Experience of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies in a Tertiary Care Hospital: a Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most commonly performed surgical procedure of digestive tract. It has replaced open cholecystectomy as gold standard treatment for cholelithiasis and inflammation of gallbladder.  It is estimated that approximately 90% of cholecystectomies in the  United States are performed using a laparoscopic approach.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in context to its complications, morbidity and mortality in a tertiary care hospital.  Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 1200 patients, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomies, during the period from January 2019 to December 2019, at Government Medical College Jammu J & K, India and necessary data was collected and reviewed. Results: In our study, a total of 1200 patients were studied including 216 males (18%) and 984 females (82%). The mean age of the patients was 43.35±8.61. The mean operative time in our study was 55.5±10.60 minutes with range of 45 – 90 minutes. Conversion rate was 2.6%. 2 patients were re-explored. Bile duct injury was found in 6 patients (0.5%).  Conclusions: Gallstone disease is a global health problem. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now replaced open cholecystectomy as the first choice of treatment for gallstones. Gall stone diseases is most frequently encountered in female population. The risk factors for conversion to open cholecystectomy include male gender, previous abdominal surgery, acute cholecystitis, dense adhesions and fibrosis in Calot’ s triangle, anatomical variations, advanced age, comorbidity, obesity, suspicion of common bile duct stones, jaundice, and decreased surgeon experience. The incidence of surgical site infection has significantly decreased in laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to open cholecystectomy. In our study we could not find any case of surgical site infection.