Comparison Between Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis or With Normal Liver Function

Abstract

Objective and Background: The safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with Child–Pugh A and B cirrhosis is well-established, but perioperative complications are frequently observed in patients with cirrhosis. Technical challenges of this operation in cirrhotic patients remain in need of resolution. Methods: Twenty-one patients preoperatively diagnosed as having cirrhosis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy mainly using the French approach and were retrospectively reviewed. Their clinicopathologic characteristics were compared with 74 continuous patients with gallstone but no cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the American approach. Results: Most cirrhotic patients (19/21, 90.5%) had a chronic liver disease such as hepatitis B/C, alcoholic hepatitis, or primary biliary cholangitis. On imaging, the Chilaiditi sign and gallbladder bed pocket score, previously proposed to be informative in these patients, were significantly higher in the cirrhosis group than in the no cirrhosis group. Although the Child–Pugh score was higher in patients with cirrhosis, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score was similar for the 2 groups. There were no differences in the operation time or the amount of intraoperative blood transfused. Postoperative hospital stay and postoperative morbidity rates were significantly greater in the cirrhosis group, although severe complications with a Clavien–Dindo score ≥ IIIa occurred in only 1 patient in each group. Conclusions: The safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients was confirmed. Because the gallbladder is completely covered in patients with cirrhosis, the French style approach, which enables surgeons to more easily access the gallbladder pocket, is assumed to be one of the operative options.