title: Subtotal cholecystectomy versus total cholecystectomy in complicated cholecystitis.
abstract: Complicated cholecystitis can make dissections around the triangle of Calot difficult with a higher risk of duct and arterial injury. We reviewed a series of patients with cholecystitis receiving either partial or subtotal cholecystectomies and compared it with total cholecystectomies  with respect to complications. A retrospective chart review was performed on all subtotal cholecystectomies performed for cholecystitis at University Medical Center of El Paso from June 2004 to December 2010. A similar number of patients who had total cholecystectomies for cholecystitis were  selected as a comparison group from that same time period. A total of 116 patients who had subtotal and total cholecystectomies were reviewed (58 patients in each group). There were seven postoperative complications noted in the subtotal cholecystecomy (SC) group versus 14 for the total  cholecystectomy (TC) group. Three patients in the SC group had cystic duct leaks, all successfully treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with biliary stenting. There were two patients who had common bile duct injuries in the TC group and none in the SC group. Two patients  had duodenal injuries in the TC group. Subtotal cholecystectomy is a viable alternative to total cholecystectomy in cases of complicated cholecystitis.
authors: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, El Paso, Texas 79905, USA. Br.davis@ttuhsc.edu
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Davis
authors: Gino
authors: G
authors: Castaneda
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Lopez
mesh_terms: D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome