Therapeutic decision of laparoscopy and its benefits as a gold standard in acute cholecystectomy

Abstract

Background: Acute cholecystitis is the most frequent complication of cholelithiasis and counts for one third of surgical emergencies. Aim: The study evaluates the outcomes and limits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed for 2 years, between 01.01.2016-31.12.2017 in the 2nd Surgery Department of the Sibiu County Emergency Clinical Hospital, on hospitalized patients with acute cholecystitis, who underwent surgery. The severity of acute cholecystitis was analyzed using the Tokyo Guidelines (TG13 / TG18) severity risk scale. The preoperatory evaluation of the anesthetic-surgical risk was based on American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification (ASA PS) and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (9). Statistical analysis was performed to analyze the outcomes and limits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the risk factors for conversion and open surgery. Results: Out of the 262 patients in the study group, most of the patients (61%) were diagnosed with moderate acute cholecystitis, while 67 patients (26%) were diagnosed with mild form and 34 (13%) with severe acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 96.1% of cases with no conversion to open surgery. The postoperative complications were ligature slippage (1.9%), main bile duct injury (1.9%), postoperative hemorrhage (3.9%) and surgical site infections (2.4%), most of them being managed conservatory. Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed nowadays with minimal morbidity in acute cholecystitis. Knowledge of various factors predicting possible conversion helps in adequate pre-operative selection and counseling for open procedure with further reduction in the overall morbidity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.