Role of color Doppler flow imaging in predicting difficulties of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) findings in predicting possible difficulties of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Methods A total of 99 patients with acute cholecystitis received CDFI examination, and were divided into easy LC group (n=67) and difficult LC group (n=32) according to the indexes including the volume of gallbladder, the thickness of gallbladder wall, the condition of arterial flow in the gallbladder wall, the condition of gallbladder cavity and fossa, and of the intra-and extra-hepatic bile duct. After LC, all the patients were redivided into easy LC group and difficult LC group according to a difficulty scoring system of LC. The relationship among imaging results, operation difficulties and operation findings was investigated. Results According to the final score of difficulty scoring system of LC, the number of patients in easy LC group and difficult group was 61 and 38, respectively. Compared with easy LC group, patients in difficult LC group had bigger gallbladder volume [(39.5±13.2)am3 vs(32.6±10.4)cm3], thicker gallbladder wall [(10.1±4.0)mm vs(3.8±0.9)mm], more stone incarceration in the neck of gallbladder, abundant color blood flow signal of the gallbladder wall and more severe adhesion of gallbladder to the adjacent tissues, with statistical difference between the 2 groups (t=-2.820,-12.318,-3.952,x2=33.548,19.461,P<0.05). Using gallbladder volume, the thickness of gallbladder wall, infarction of stones in the neck of gallbladder and adhesion of gallbladder to the adjacent tissues as prediction indexes, the accuracy of CDFI in predicting the possible difficulties of LC was 94% (93/99). Conclusion Preoperative CDFI is helpful in predicting difficulties of LC for acute cholecystitis. Key words: Color Doppler flow imaging; Cholecystitis; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Prediction