Madeeha Subhan Waleed1, Waleed Sadiq2, Mumtaz Akhtar3, Uzzam Ahmed Khawaja4 *
1Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
2Staten Island University Hospital, New York, USA.
3Al Nafees Medical College and Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
4Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
*Corresponding Author: Khawaja UA, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract
Background
Gallbladder is an ovate shaped organ lying beneath the liver. Stones can form in the gallbladder and that pathology is known as cholelithiasis. Cholelithiasis is one of the commonest conditions encountered by surgeons all over the world. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a technique in which gallbladder is removed laparoscopically.
Keywords: laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gallstones, laparoscopy
Introduction
Gall bladder removal surgery is termed as cholecystectomy. There are two types: open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the new invasive standard method and is safer and globally accepted [1,2]. Usually, gall stone formation trend tends to increase with age, thus age determining the outcome of this disease [3]. The pioneering surgeon for open cholecystectomy was Carl August Flankerback performing the first-ever open cholecystectomy in 1882 but now it is largely replaced by laparoscopic cholecystectomy that is accepted worldwide [4- 6]. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a technique in which the gall bladder is removed via ports that are inserted with minimal manipulation thus improving the time of recovery and markedly decreasing the complication like wound infection [7,8]. Stones in the gallbladder can occur in 10 % to 15 % of the people of the United States and 18.5 % population residing in Europe [9]. In our country like Pakistan the city of Karachi having a population of 21.2 million has cholelithiasis as the third most common indication of admission to the hospital [10]. Gall bladder perforation can occur in 6-40 % while approximately 13-32 % of patients suffer from complications due to bile spillage [11]. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure, and the recovery time is very less. Most hospitals have just 23 hours of stay after the procedure and the patient if recovering fine can be discharged on medications [12]. Our study includes 445 patients admitted at Al Nafees hospital Islamabad diagnosed with cholelithiasis undergoing cholecystectomy over a time span of 2014-2017.
Methods
This observational prospective study was undergone in patients of surgical units of Al Nafees Medical Hospital Islamabad during the time of October 2013 to October 2017. Since the year 2013 to 2017, a total of 445 patients were diagnosed with cases of cholelithiasis on ultrasound. Patients of any age and gender diagnosed with cholelithiasis on ultrasound were included in our study. Patients diagnosed with hepatitis B and hepatitis C and the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status category greater than 4 were excluded from the study.
On admission history of the patient was taken, general physical examination was done, and investigations were done including Blood Complete picture, Liver function tests, blood sugar random levels, Hepatitis B and C serology and Abdominal Ultrasound. Echocardiogram and Thyroid Junction tester and other investigations were only done in patients with associated conditions.445 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for laparoscopic cholecystectomy the four-port technique was applied with pneumoperitoneum created using Verses needle. Data was collected on printed questionaries. All data were then included in the excel sheet.
Results
A total of 445 patients were diagnosed with cholelithiasis at Anlages hospital during the years 2014-2017.
The gender distribution was males being 48 (10.78 %) and females being 397 (89.21) as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Gender distribution of patients in our study.
The age range was 12 to 75 years and the median age being 32.09 as shown in Figure 2
Out of 445 patients that underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, sole laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done in 387(86.96 %) patients and 58(13.03 %) underwent laparoscopic converted to open cholecystectomy as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: Type of cholecystectomy undergone by the patient.
Figure 4: Postoperative complications.
Figure 5: Outcome of the surgery.
99.3 % of the patients recovered successfully. There was bile duct injury in two patients that was diagnosed postoperatively by MRCP and managed accordingly. Pancreatic duct injury in none, other viscera injuries included stomach injury in one patient. There overall mortality was 0.4 % as shown in Figure 4 & 5.
Discussion
In 1882 the first open cholecystectomy was performed and the first laparoscopic cholecystectomywas done in 1987 since then the percentage of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in developed countries are greater than 80% and in developing In countries like our ratio is lesser due to decreased skilled surgeons and equipment [13, 14]. In Pakistan, the rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy is 32 % as reported by Iqbal et al,80 % by Abasis et al and 21.3 % as reported by Raza et al. [15-18]. Our study had 89.21 % of females that is corresponding to the data in previous literature available that cholelithiasis is far more common in women [19-21]. The conversion rate of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy is 13.03 % in our study that is consistent with studies showing that the conversion rate is greater in developing countries [22-24]. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can lead to operative bile duct injuries during the procedure, a study showing 0.6% bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy [25].
Two of our patients had bile duct injuries that were then repaired laparoscopically and recovered fine with no complications afterward. Mortality (0.4 %) in our study was lesser than the mortality rate of (0.7-1.1 %) as quoted by other studies. Aging is a risk factor for mortality with laparoscopic cholecystectomy as well [26, 27]. Port site wound infection occurred in (0.2 %) patient. Other studies report port site infections to be 2.2 % and 1.63 % [28, 29]. The dressing was done for port site infections and the patients recovered. Injury to the aorta can also occur but in our study, none of the patients had an injury to the aorta or middle colic artery, etc. Dizzier stated 13 cases of aortic injury while Ravago et al stated reported one aortic injury case during cholecystectomy [30, 31]. Now taking into consideration the results of our study laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reliable and safe with lesser postoperative complications and the patients recovering very early. In a resource’s deficient country like ours, proper training of the surgeons should be done.
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an easy safe and reliable procedure for gall bladder removal with less postoperative complications improving patient is living standard morbidity and time of recovery and improving economy as an early return of patient to work. In a developing country like ours, more surgeons should be trained and should perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy as there are minimum complications of this procedure.
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