Factors causing conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Introduction and purpose: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard surgical procedure in the treatment symptomatic gall bladder disease. Conversion is not a failure or complication. It is only a step taken to ensure patient safety and to avoid complications. The objective of our study was to investigate the rate and the causative preoperative and intraoperative factors of conversion and to help surgeons have an idea about potential intraoperative challenges. Materials and methods: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures performed on 4433 patients with signs and symptoms of cholelithiasis-cholecystitis who were diagnosed with abdominal ultrasonography were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were grouped on the basis of age, gender, length of hospitalization, history of preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP), diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic fibrotic cholecystitis, gall bladder polyps, and urgent-elective surgery. The rate and causative factors of conversion were investigated. Statistical analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS for Windows, version 17.0 (IBM statistics for Windows version 17, IBM Corparation, Armonk, New York, United States) software package. Result: In our study, the conversion rate was 0.85%. Male gender, advanced age, increased length of hospitalization, history of preoperative ERCP, urgent surgery (acute-hydropic cholecystitis), and chronic fibrotic cholecystitis were the significant risk factors for conversion. DM had no effect on conversion. Conclusion: Conversion should not be necessarily regarded as a complication in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Identifying patients with significant risk factors for conversion can significantly minimize the complications of the laparoscopic procedure. This may assist in identifying high-risk patients and reviewing surgical strategy in this patient group.