Publication:

The role of C-reactive protein as a predictor of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy or its conversion

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) can be the easiest or the most difficult laparoscopic operation. Conversion to open surgery has been a traditional marker of difficult LC. Recent studies have shown that C-reactive protein (CRP) may be helpful to surgeon in knowing the pathological condition of gall bladder before removal. Aim of this study was to evaluate the role of CRP as a predictor of difficult LC or its conversion.

Methods This study was done from 1 march 2016 to may 2017 in department of general surgery, SMS hospital Jaipur, under single unit. All patients with cholelithiasis admitted in single unit of SMS hospital undergoing LC were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were high BMI (>35), proven congenital anomaly of gall bladder, previous abdominal surgery, any conditions increasing CRP and immunocompromised patients.  CRP was done for each patient.

Results Mean age of our 148 patients was 50.41 years. Female to male ratio was 4.28:1. Mean CRP was 22.2±18.2 mg/dl for simple cholecystectomy, 46.5±32.0 mg/dl for difficult cholecystectomy and 83.6±22.4 mg/dl for laparoscopic converted to open cholecystectomy, which was statistically significant (p value 0.0002).

Conclusions CRP is a potent predictor of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy and its conversion preoperatively. Patients with preoperatively high CRP have higher chance of complication intraoperative and high chances of conversion to open.