International Journal of Medicine Research

Authors
P Bonny Natesh, R S Sindhu, P Fahaduzzaman, Ramesh Rajan

Abstract
Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has emerged as the standard of care for benign gallbladder disease esp. cholelithiasis. Conversion to open surgery, though not to be considered a failure, adds to the post-operative morbidity, and prolongs hospital stay. This study attempts to determine the factors that could predict pre-operatively, the risk for open conversion. Methods: This retrospective single centre study from a tertiary care centre in South India (Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram) included 204 consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients. The goal of the study was to determine the pre-operative predictors of open conversion in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results: The prevalence of conversion to open cholecystectomy in this series was 10.29% the predominant reason for which was frozen Calot's triangle (71.4%). Out of the pre-operative predictors of conversion to open surgery that were studied, imaging features of GB wall thickening (>3mm) or Common bile duct dilatation (≥7mm) had a statistically significant odds ratio of 61.44 for conversion. Conclusion: Pre-operative imaging features of GB wall thickening (>3mm) or Common bile duct dilatation (≥7mm) is a significant predictor of conversion to open surgery during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.