Background: Early conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy for patients with gangrenous cholecystitis has been advocated. This study investigated the impact of early conversion on patient outcome.
Methods: Data from all patients with gangrenous cholecystitis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1992 and 2002 whose procedure had been converted to open surgery were prospectively collected and analyzed. Morbidity, length of stay, intensive care unit admission, and operative time served as outcome measures.
Results: Of the 97 patients in the study, 33 underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy. The conversion was early for 24% of the patients, after the initial dissection, for 33% and after an extended attempt at completion of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy for 37%. There was no difference in the overall morbidity among the groups, whereas the length of hospital stay appeared to be longer in the early conversion group. The operative time was significantly shorter after early conversion (p < 0.01, chi-square test).
Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not feasible for all patients with gangrenous cholecystitis. However, a concerted effort to perform the cholecystectomy with the minimally invasive approach does not have an adverse impact on patient outcome and is likely to benefit patients although it poses a moderate risk of conversion.