Bailout for the Difficult Gallbladder: Subtotal vs. Open Cholecystectomy-A Retrospective Tertiary Care Center Experience.

A difficult gallbladder anatomy augments the risk of bile duct injuries (BDIs) and other complications during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study compares the outcomes of a laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSTC) and open total cholecystectomy (OTC) for difficult cholecystectomies. This retrospective analysis of gallbladder procedures (LSTC or OTC) from 2016 to 2023 examined patient demographics, surgical details, and postoperative results. The primary outcome was the incidence of a BDI. Secondary outcomes included operative duration, blood loss, and postoperative complications. Seventy-one patients were included in the study. Of them, 59.2% (n = 42) underwent an LSTC and 44.6% (n = 29) underwent an OTC. The LSTC cohort was more likely to have a day-surgery case with a same-day discharge (33.3% vs. 0%, = 0.009), less blood loss (71.4 ± 82.26 vs. 184.8 ± 234.86, = 0.009), and a shorter operative duration (187.86 ± 68.74 vs. 258.62 ± 134.52 min, = 0.008). Furthermore, BDI was significantly lower in the LSTC group (2.4% vs. 17.2%, = 0.045). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups concerning intraoperative drain placement, peri-cholecystic fluid collection, bile leak, and other complications ( > 0.05). : LSTC is a safe and effective alternative to OTC for challenging gallbladder cases. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods as well as different study designs are warranted.