Feasibility and safety of day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a single-institution 5-year experience of 1140 cases

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: We report our experience with day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy and assess its feasibility and safety. METHODS: Data was collected on all the patients who underwent day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy between February 2009 and February 2014 at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All patients had symptomatic cholelithiasis that was proven on imaging studies with clearance of the common bile duct. The patient biographical data (age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiology status, medical comorbidities) and surgical outcomes were then obtained. There was an evaluation of the success rate of day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy, reasons for unexpected admission, and the re-admission rate. RESULTS: A total of 1,140 patients were included in this study. The success rate for day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 96%. The reasons for unexpected hospital admission for 46 patients (4%) included persistent abdominal pain and postoperative emesis. The postoperative re-admission rate was 0.4% (5 patients). There were no major complications, and the conversion rate was 0.5% (6 patients). CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that day-surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy is both safe and feasible in a local setting. Careful patient selection is essential in ensuring a high success rate.

Customized left-sided hepatectomy and bile duct resection for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma in a patient with left-sided gallbladder and multiple combined anomalies

Left-sided gallbladder (LSGB) is a rare anomaly, but it is often associated with multiple combined variations of the liver anatomy. We present the case of a patient with LSGB who underwent successful resection of perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. The patient was a 67-year-old male who presented with upper abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. Initial imaging studies led to the diagnosis of Bismuth-Corlette type IIIB perihilar cholangiocarcinoma. Due to the unique location of the gallbladder and combined multiple hepatic anomalies, LSGB was highly suspected. During surgery after hilar dissection, we recognized that the tumor was located at the imaginary hilar bile duct bifurcation, but its actual location was corresponding to the biliary confluence of the left median and lateral sections. The extent of resection included extended left lateral sectionectomy, caudate lobe resection, and bile duct resection. Since some of the umbilical portion of the portal vein was invaded, it was resected and repaired with a portal vein branch patch. Due to anatomical variation of the biliary system, only one right-sided duct was reconstructed. The patient recovered uneventfully without any complication. LSGB should be recognized as a constellation of multiple hepatic anomalies, and therefore, thorough investigations are necessary to enable the performance of safe hepatic and biliary resections.