Clinicoradiological markers in predicting a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy – An observational study at a tertiary care teaching hospital in belagavi region of north karnataka

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gall stone disease is one of the most common pathologies encountered in surgical wards these days, with 10-15% of the general population suffering from symptomatic or asymptomatic cholelithiasis, which makes it one of the most common pathologies of gall bladder and biliary tree. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is currently considered as the gold standard treatment for the same. Despite its widespread success, laparoscopic cholecystectomy can still pose challenges. One of the most critical concerns for surgeons is predicting which cases will become ‘difficult’ laparoscopic cholecystectomies (DLCs), as these may necessitate conversion to open surgery. The aim of this study is to identify the clinicoradiological markers that can predict a DLC and the likelihood of its conversion to open cholecystectomy using the Nassar grading as a predictive model.