Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND

In this study we retrospectively evaluated a group of symptomatic cirrhotic (n=30) and non-cirrhotic (n=60) patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in a public hospital in Brazil.

METHODS

The groups were compared for surgical time, duration of hospitalization after surgery, period of permanence in the intensive care unit (ICU), use of blood derivatives, mortality rates, and transoperative and post-surgery complications. Other parameters, such as hepatic reserve capacity and presence of ascites, were also analyzed.

RESULTS

Twenty-three (76.7%) of the patients of the cirrhosis group (CG) were classified as Child-Pugh A, and seven (23.3%) were Child-Pugh B. Six of them (20%) had ascites. Differences between the two groups included surgery time (p=0.008), duration of hospitalization (p=0.014), and post-surgery (p=0.000) or ambulatory (p=0.008) complications. The worst results were observed among Child B patients and in those with ascites. Blood derivatives were used in only 3.3% of the CG patients. No cases of conversion to laparotomy were observed among the two groups of patients included in this study, nor were there any deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy may be safely performed in public hospitals in Brazil, with low levels of complications, no associated mortality, and no need for blood derivatives.