Treatment principles and surgical skills in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Abstract

Objective To study the treatment principles and surgical skills in laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) for acute cholecystitis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients who underwent LSC for acute cholecystitis from Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2015 at the Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University. We dissected any serious pericholecystic adhesions according to the principle thatIt is better that the gallbladder rather than other tissue is injured, and the technique thatAfter the gallbladder anterior wall is excised, the gallbladder ampulla and duct are split along the longitudinal direction of the cholecystic duct, then the opened cholecystic duct is sutured inside the gallbladder. Results LSC was completed successfully in 96 patients. There were no conversion to open surgery, and no bile duct injury. The mean surgery time was (108.0±37.0) min, the mean blood loss was (121.0±62.0) ml, the mean peritoneal drainage was (105.0±32.0) ml. The drainage tube was removed at a mean of (3.4±1.2) d after surgery. The mean hospitalization time after surgery was (6.1±2.2) d. Surgical complications occurred in 2 patients with bleeding after surgery. One patient underwent laparoscopic exploration to stop bleeding. Another patient underwent conservative treatment and the bleeding stopped spontaneously. There were 3 patients who had mild bile leakage. All these patients recovered well after drainage. No patient deve-loped bile duct stenosis or obstructive jaundice on follow-up. Conclusions LSC for acute cholecystitis was safe. Bile duct injuries could be avoided if we follow the principle ofIt is better that the gallbladder rather than other tissue is injuredand the technique ofAfter the gallbladder anterior wall is excised, the gallbladder ampulla and duct are split along the longitudinal direction of the gallbladder, then the opened cholecystic duct is sutured inside the gallbladder. Key words: Acute cholecystitis; Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy; Surgical complication; Surgical skills