ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC)for patients with acute cholecystitis.Methods From May 2003 to November 2007,238 patients with acute cholecystitis underwent LC in our hospital.Four trocars were used in the operation.During the procedure,intraperitoneal pressure was controlled at 11 to 13 mm Hg(10 mm Hg for elderly patients).Retrograde cholecystectomy was performed on the patients with difficult anatomy caused by edema of the cystic triangle.For cases with calculi incarcerated in the cystic duct,the LC was performed after the stones were removed into the cyst(cholangiography was performed to exclude bile duct calculi).Results Of the 238 cases,LC was completed successfully in 220 patients,the other 18 cases were converted into open surgery because of massive hemorrhage and difficult anatomy(12 cases)or bile duct calculi(6 cases).After the LC,two patients received a second surgery because of postoperative hemorrhage;six patients developed bile leakage(occurred at 2-4 days after the LC with 50-80 ml of drainage)and were cured by conservative therapy including fasting,intravenous nutrition and anti-biotic therapy.This series were followed up for 1 to 12 months(mean,6 months).No post-operative complications were noticed during the period.Conclusions LC is a safe and effective for patients with acute cholecystitis or acute episode of chronic cholecystitis.Controlling the operation opportunity properly and dissecting the Calot's triangle area carefully to expose the cystic duct are the key steps during the operation.Convertion to open surgery is necessary in some difficult situations.