Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients: the role of subtotal cholecystectomy and its variants.
BACKGROUND
Open cholecystectomy is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may offer a better option because of the magnification available and the availability of newer instruments like the ultrasonic shears. We present our experience of 265 laparoscopic cholecystectomies and attempt to identify the difficulties encountered in this group of patients.


METHODS
Between 1991 and 2005, 265 cirrhotic patients of Child-Pugh Classification A and B, with symptomatic gallstones, were subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We describe here our tailored approach and our techniques of subtotal cholecystectomy.


RESULTS
Features of acute cholecystitis were present in 35.1% of the patients, and 64.9% presented with chronic cholecystitis. In 81.5% of the patients, the diagnosis of cirrhosis was established preoperatively. In 8.3% of the patients, a fundus first method was adopted when the hilum could not be approached despite additional ports. Modified subtotal cholecystectomy was performed in a total of 206 patients. Mean operative time in the subtotal cholecystectomy group was 72 minutes; in the standard group, it was 41 minutes. There was no mortality. In 15% of patients, postoperative deterioration in liver function occurred. Worsening of ascites, port site infection, port site bleeding, intraoperative hemorrhage, bilious drainage, and stone formation in the remnant were the other complications encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective treatment for calculous cholecystitis in cirrhotic patients. Appropriate modification of subtotal cholecystectomy should be practiced, depending on the risk factors present, to avoid complications.
Palanivelu
Chinnasamy
C
Department of GI and Minimal Access Surgery, Gem Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India.
Rajan
Pidigu Seshiyer
PS
Jani
Kalpesh
K
Shetty
Alangar Roshan
AR
Sendhilkumar
Karuppasamy
K
Senthilnathan
Palanisamy
P
Parthasarthi
Ramakrishnan
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome