ABSTRACT
Objective To study how to reduce the complication rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis. Methods A retrospective analysis was made on clinical data of 158 cases of acute cholecystitis treated by LC from September 2001 to December 2003. Results Operations were accomplished laparoscopically in 151 cases, while conversions to open surgery were required in 7 cases (1 case of Mirizzi’s syndrome, 2 cases of gallbladder carcinoma, 1 case of cholecystoduodenal fistula, 2 cases of "ice-like" adhesions in the Calot triangle, and 1 case of common bile duct stones). Open re-exploration was performed in 1 case because of biliary leakage. Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) was successfully conducted in 10 cases, 3 of which were found common bile duct stones. Out of the 3 cases, 2 cases underwent an intraoperative endoscopic sphincterotomy and 1 received a conversion to open choledochotomy with T-tube drainage. Conclusions When utilizing LC for acute cholecystitis, the rate of conversion and the incidence of complication may be reduced as long as the patients were properly selected, the principles of safety were abided by, and the intraoperative cholangiography was performed routinely.