EVALUATION OF CLINICO-RADIOLOGICAL FACTORS PREDICTING DIFFICULT LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become procedure of choice for treatment of symptomatic gallstone [1] disease . Even though it is a safe procedure occasionally it can be difcult and requires conversion to open cholecystectomy for various problems faced during surgery. Preoperative prediction of difcult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and likelihood of conversion to open cholecystectomy will avoid such complications and overall cost of treatment. Aim: To evaluate the clinico-radiological factors predicting difcult laparoscopic cholecystectomy Methods: This was a prospective study conducted from October 2018 to November 2020. Total of 101 patients meeting inclusion criteria undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. Various clinical, radiological and biochemical parameters and intraoperative difculties during surgery were recorded. The statistical analysis was done using chi-square test and ANOVA test. Results: The parameters such as sex, age, duration of disease, co-morbid disease, previous history of cholecystitis, palpable gall bladder, BMI, TLC, thickness of gall bladder, largest stone size and impacted stone are found statistically signicant in predicting difcult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and conversion to open cholecystectomy preoperatively. Conclusion: Difcult laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be predicted preoperatively even with a good clinical judgement whereas both clinical and radiological parameters provide a better preoperative prediction of difcult cholecystectomy so that the surgeon can prepared in advance for the complications.