Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2003 Oct-Dec;7(4):329-33.

Difficult cholecystectomies: validity of the laparoscopic approach

Vincenzo Neri  1 , Antonio Ambrosi, Giuseppe Di Lauro, Alberto Fersini, Tiziano Pio Valentino
Affiliations

Difficult cholecystectomies: validity of the laparoscopic approach

Vincenzo Neri et al. JSLS. 2003 Oct-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this work was to determine the outcome of "difficult cholecystectomy" caused by acute cholecystitis or cirrhosis, in relation to the number of conversions, principal biliary duct injuries, the length of the operation, and of postoperative hospitalization.

Methods: From 1998 through 2000, 51 patients, 38 females and 13 males, underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and cholecystitis associated with liver cirrhosis; the average age was 58.8 years (range, 24 to 86 years). No preoperative selection was made for video laparoscopic treatment. An open laparoscopy was performed in all cases.

Results: All interventions were completed by video laparoscopy. No injury of the major bile ducts occurred in the 51 cases. The average time of operation was 110 minutes. The average length of hospitalization was 3 days.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the results after "difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy" are comparable to those after "open cholecystectomy." Difficult cholecystectomy executed with video laparoscopic methodology is safe and effective if performed with appropriate equipment and by experienced surgeons.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Zucher KA, Flowers JL, Bailey RW, Graham SM, Buell J, Imbembo AL. Laparoscopic management of acute cholecystitis. Am J Surg. 1993;165:508–514 - PubMed
    1. Velasco JM, Vallina VL. A technique for laparoscopic retraction of the acutely inflamed thick-walled gallbladder. Surg Endosc. 1994;8:809–811 - PubMed
    1. Assaff Y, Metter I, Sabo E, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and the consequences of gallbladder perforation, bile spillage, and “loss” of stones. Eur J Surg. 1998;164:425–431 - PubMed
    1. Urban L, Eason GA, Remine S, et al. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with early cirrhosis. Curr Surg. 2001;58:312–315 - PubMed
    1. D'Alburgnerque LA, de Miranda MP, Genzini T, Copstein JL, Oliveira-e-Silva A. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients. Surg Laparosc Endosc. 1995;5:272–276 - PubMed