Long-term consequences of intraoperative spillage of bile and gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a higher incidence of iatrogenic perforation of the gallbladder than open cholecystectomy. The long-term consequences of spilled bile and gallstones are unknown. Data were collected prospectively from 1059 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy over a 3-year period. Details of the operative procedures and postoperative course of patients in whom gallbladder perforation occurred were reviewed. Long-term follow-up (range 24 to 59 months) was available for 92% of patients. Intraoperative perforation of the gallbladder occurred in 306 patients (29%); it was more common in men and was associated with increasing age, body weight, and the presence of omental adhesions (each P < 0.001). There was no increased risk in patients with acute cholecystitis (P = 0.13). Postoperatively pyrexia was more common in patients with spillage of gallbladder contents (18% vs. 9%; P < 0.001). Of the patients with long-term follow-up, intra- abdominal abscess developed in 1 (0.6%) of 177 with spillage of only bile, and in 3 (2.9%) of 103 patients with spillage of both bile and gallstones, whereas no intra- abdominal abscesses occurred in the 697 patients in whom the gallbladder was removed intact ( P < 0.001). Intraperitoneal spillage of gallbladder contents during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with an increased risk of intra-abdominal abscess. Attempts should be made to irrigate the operative field to evacuate spilled bile and to retrieve all gallstones spilled during the operative procedure.
Rice
D C
DC
Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Memon
M A
MA
Jamison
R L
RL
Agnessi
T
T
Ilstrup
D
D
Bannon
M B
MB
Farnell
M B
MB
Grant
C S
CS
Sarr
M G
MG
Thompson
G B
GB
van Heerden JA
Zietlow
S P
SP
Donohue
J H
JH
D001646:Bile; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies