Gallstones in cirrhotics revisited by a laparoscopic view

Surgical literature around 1980 has emphasized the technical challenge and the risks of cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients reporting discouraging results. The aim of this study is the retrospective analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotics. The collected laparoscopic experience of 3 surgical groups for the last 5 years is reported. Cirrhotics were classified according to Child-Pugh criteria. Postoperative complications were classified using Clavien's rules. Forty patients were recruited; 31 received successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Liver cirrhosis was preoperatively diagnosed in all Child-Pugh B (n = 11) and in 11/20 Child-Pugh A patients. Compared with 989 noncirrhotics undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, cirrhotics were similar in terms of age (59.9 +/- 10.3 vs. 58.1 +/- 10.9) and sex (male: 51.6% vs. 50.1%). Acute cholecystitis has a similar frequence in cirrhotics and noncirrhotics (3.2% vs. 4.1%, respectively). Bile duct stones and acute pancreatitis were significantly more frequent in cirrhotic patients (6.4% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001; and 6.4% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). Endoscopic papillotomy and stone extraction combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 2 patients. Intraoperatively, technical problems occurred in 5 (16.1%) patients: liver bed bleeding (n = 4) was significatively more frequent in cirrhotics vs. noncirrhotics (p < 0.001). Mean operative time was 90 min, range 50-180, and it was not significantly longer than in noncirrhotics (85 min, range 30-200). Conversion rate was also similar (3%). Seven patients presented 8 postoperative complications (Class II): right side lung effusion (n = 2), ascites (n = 2), temporary worsening of Child-Pugh status (n = 2), hyperosmotic coma (n = 1), and umbilical hernia (n = 1). Mean hospital stay in noncomplicated cases was the same for noncirrhotics (3 +/- 1). The authors suggest a more liberal use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones in selected Child-Pugh A and B patients.