Is male gender a risk factor for conversion of laparoscopic into open cholecystectomy?
BACKGROUND
Based on a clinical observation that the conversion rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) to open cholecystectomy (OC) is higher in males, we decided to review our records and to verify whether a significant difference in conversion rates exists between sexes.


METHODS
A retrospective study on conversion rates of elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) into open cholecystectomy (LC) in relation to gender was carried out in 329 patients: 267 females and 62 males.


RESULTS
Our data revealed that the probability of conversion is fivefold greater in males than females, 21% vs 4.5%, respectively (p = 0.0001). We attribute this striking difference to significantly more adhesions p = 0.0002) and anatomical difficulties (p = 0.003) in males during LC, leading to conversion.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that conversion of LC to OC is more prevalent among males and is probably attributable to a greater incidence of anatomical difficulties.
Zisman
A
A
Department of Surgery B, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Zerifin, Israel.
Gold-Deutch
R
R
Zisman
E
E
Negri
M
M
Halpern
Z
Z
Lin
G
G
Halevy
A
A
D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors