Post laparoscopic cholecystectomy exploration: An audit

Objective: This study was conducted to analyse the different causes and factors for exploration and their management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1000 cases of cholelithiasis. Methodology: This is a prospective study conducted in the department of surgery Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan, from January 2003 to December 2010. Thousand cases of cholelithiasis were operated for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in eight years and were observed for their recovery and complications postoperatively. Those patients who developed major problems were assessed clinically and by different investigations like LFT, Ultrasound, CT scan and HIDA scan to find out the cause. They were operated once absolute indication of exploration was made. All patients were included in study after getting informed consent for first operation as well as for Re-do surgery if any one required exploration. Results: Out of 1000 cases, 58 patients (5.8%) developed unidentified complications during laparoscopic cholecystectomy who required surgery for one or other reason. The problems which required exploration were bleeding in 2.2%, biliary leak in 1.9% and obstructive jaundice in 1.0% of cases as main reasons. The cases were managed by various open surgical procedures depending upon the pathology found on exploration. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy though proved as gold standard for cholelithiasis but still is not free of complications and can land up into major problems for patients who had either difficult cholecystectomy or over looked congenital anomalies of biliary tree.