Bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a 1994-2001 audit on 13,718 operations in the area of Rome.
BACKGROUND
Bile duct injuries (BDIs) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) still are reported with greater frequency than during open cholecystectomy (OC).


METHODS
In 1999, a retrospective study evaluating the incidence of BDIs during LC in the area of Rome from 1994 to 1998 (group A) was performed. In addition, a prospective audit was started, ending in December 2001 (group B).


RESULTS
In group A, 6,419 LCs were performed (222 were converted to OC; 3.4%). In group B, 7,299 LCs were performed (225 were converted to OC; 3.1%). Seventeen BDIs (0.26%) occurred in group A and 16 (0.22%) in group B. Overall, mortality and major morbidity rates were 12.1% and 30.3%, respectively, without significant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence and clinical relevance of BDIs during LC in the area of Rome appeared to be stable over the past 8 years and were not influenced by the use of a prospective audit, as compared with a retrospective survey.
Gentileschi
P
P
Lap Group Roma, Gruppo Laparoscopico Romano, Via A. Borelli 5, 00161 Roma, Italy. gentilp@yahoo.com
Di Paola
M
M
Catarci
M
M
Santoro
E
E
Montemurro
L
L
Carlini
M
M
Nanni
E
E
Alessandroni
L
L
Angeloni
R
R
Benini
B
B
Cristini
F
F
Dalla Torre
A
A
De Stefano
C
C
Gatto
A
A
Gossetti
F
F
Manfroni
S
S
Mascagni
P
P
Masoni
L
L
Montalto
G
G
Polito
D
D
Puce
E
E
Silecchia
G
G
Terenzi
A
A
Valle
M
M
Vita
S
S
Zanarini
T
T
D000368:Aged; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D008099:Liver / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires