Publication:

Role of gallbladder wall thickness in predicting laparoscopic operability prior to cholecystectomy: a retrospective analysis

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard procedure for cholecystitis. There are variable rates of conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy. Various studies have highlighted gall bladder wall thickness of > 3mm as an independent risk factor for conversion. The purpose of our study is to predict the feasibility of cholecystectomy laparoscopically bases on the pre-operative ultrasound guided measurement of gall bladder wall thickness.

Methods It is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Surgery, Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences (HIMS) from June 2016 to September 2017. Patient’s pre-operative complete haemogram, liver function tests were also analyzed. Gallbladder wall thickness was estimated by using the maximal obtainable measurement at the fundus. A thin gallbladder wall was less than 3 mm in diameter. A thick gallbladder wall was 3 mm or greater in diameter.

Results A total of 192 patients were included in this study. Most of the patients were of the age group between 30-40 years, with average age of 37 years and 70% of the patients were females. Out of 192, 176 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 16 patients required conversion to open surgery. Ninety patients (46.8%) had cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and one hundred two patients (53.15%) had cholecystectomy for chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder wall was found to be greater than 3 mm in 23 patients (25.5%) with acute calculous cholecystitis and greater than 3 mm in 25 patients (24.5%) with chronic calculous cholecystitis. Forty-eight patients, out of a total of 192, had a gallbladder wall thickness greater than 3 mm by preoperative sonography and 16 of these patients (33.3%) required conversion to an open cholecystectomy.

Conclusions Gall bladder wall thickness bases on ultrasound is a good predictor for difficult cholecystectomy and conversion to open surgery.