Risk factors for conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy - experiences from a general teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for treating symptomatic cholelithiasis. Conversion, however, is sometimes necessary. The aim of this study was to determine predictive factors of conversion in patients undergoing LC for various indications in elective and acute settings in a general teaching hospital.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 972 consecutive patients who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, from January 2000 till January 2006. Recorded data were sex, age, indication for LC, conversion to open cholecystectomy, reason for conversion, performing surgeon, co-morbidity, type of complication, length of hospital stay and 30-day mortality.

RESULTS

Conversion to open cholecystectomy was performed in 121 patients (12%). The most frequent reasons for conversion were infiltration/fibrosis of Calot's triangle (30%) and adhesions (27%). In the multivariate analyses male gender (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.07-2.59), age >65 years (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.32-3.34), acute cholecystitis (OR 11.8, 95% CI 6.98-20.1), recent acute cholecystitis (OR 4.71, 95% CI 2.42-9.18) and recent obstructive jaundice (OR 20.6, 95% CI 4.52-94.1) were independent predictive factors for conversion.

CONCLUSIONS

Male gender, age >65 years, (recent) acute cholecystitis and recent obstructive jaundice are independent predictive risk factors for conversion. By appreciating these risk factors for conversion, preoperative patient counselling can be improved.