Laparoscopic treatment of cholelithiasis in cirrhotic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with Child's Class A and Class B cirrhosis.


METHODS
Descriptive and retrospective study.


METHODS
We studied 14 patients (mean age 60 yrs) with Child's Class A and Class B hepatic cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We analyzed the occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications.


RESULTS
Eight patients were women (57.14%) and 6 were men (42.85%). Eight of the 14 patients presented with Child's Class B cirrhosis and 6 patients with Class A. Cholecystectomy was programmed for all patients. The average duration of surgery was 77 min. Intraoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (14.28%) in the form of liver bed bleeding. Postoperative complications were observed in 3 patients (21.42%), 2 presented with ascites which led to a worsening of Child's Class in one of them, and the third patient presented with angina-like symptoms (acute, sharp pain in the chest irradiating to the back). Mean length of hospital stay was 3 days. No postoperative morbidity or mortality occurred, and there were no conversions.


CONCLUSIONS
LC (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with well-compensated Child's Class A and Class B cirrhosis. Postoperative morbi-mortality is low, bleeding is unimportant, and both duration of surgical procedure and hospital stay are short.
Flores Cortés
M
M
Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain.
Obispo Entrenas
A
A
Docobo Durántez
F
F
Romero Vargas
E
E
Legupín Tubío
D
D
Valera García
Z
Z
D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies