Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; common bile duct injury after learning curve

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of common bile duct [CBD] injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our settings, in my last 500 cases, after going through the learning curve associated CBD injuries. Descriptive study. Surgical Unit-I, Rawalpindi General Hospital and the author's Surgical Clinics from January 2003 to December 2008. Five hundred patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the same surgeon were included. The important variables included demographic data, intra operative time and findings, frequency of CBD injury and post operative hospital stay. There were 419 [83.8%] females and 81 [16.2%] males with mean age 45.04 +/- 11.03 years. 294 [58.8%] patients had chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis and were admitted through Out Patient Department whereas 206 [41.2%] were admitted through Accident and Emergency Department with acute cholecystitis. Abdominal ultrasound showed multiple calculi in 351 [70.2%] patients and 149 [29.8%] patients had single calculus preoperatively. Empyema was found in 97 [19.4%] cases whereas adhesions were present in 182 [36.4%] patients. In our study frequency of CBD injury was 1%. Mean operating time was 35 minutes. 96.8% of the patients were discharged within 48 hrs of operation. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in our set up proved to be a safe procedure, having frequency of CBD injury of only 1% and a short hospital stay 493 [96.8%] being discharged in less than 2 days