Experience with cholecystectomy; a study of 148 consecutive operations

ABSTRACT

Experience with 138 [116 females and 22 males] patients who had done cholecystectomy operation showed that the mean age of the patients was 39 years [range 14-70 years]. The age incidence in the female patients was significantly lower than in Western studies. Twenty-four [17.4 percent] patients were diabetic. Elective admissions account for 88.4 percent of cases and 11.6 percent were emergency admissions. Ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis in the 95 percent of cases. Elective cholecystectomy was performed in 108 [78.4 percent] patients, with common bile duct [CBD] intervention in 14 [10 percent] patients, while emergency cholecystectomy was done in the remaining 16 [11.6 percent] patients. Cholangiograhy was performed in 11 cases when any risk factor of bile duct stones or history of pancreatitis was associated. Fifty - five [40 percent] patients had an additional unrelated surgical procedures. Elective operations were safely performed in elderly patients with no significant increase of hospital stay. The mean hospital stay was 10.2 [range 7-30] days. There were no deaths. The general overall morbidity rate was 13.8 percent and the procedure related morbidity was 2.2 percent. Hospital stay was significantly prolonged with CBD exploration, diabetes, cases of peritoneal drainage and wound infection