Evaluation of difficulties in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

. For decades, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been the gold standard in surgical treatment of patients with cholelithiasis all over the world. The main advantage of this approach is that it is a minimally invasive procedure for patients. Although this method is a routine in our country, there are certain cases where the presumed outcome of minimally invasive procedure is not achieved, and the surgery is converted to open surgery, or a subsequent laparoscopic surgery is performed, in order to deal with the complications. The aim of this study was to establish if it was possible to create a model for preoperative prediction of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Material and Methods. Two groups of patients were analyzed. Group A included patients with cholelithiasis who were studied in order to determine parameters associated with difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Out of 16 analyzed parameters, 8 showed significant correlation with difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Based on these parameters, a prediction model was established, consisting of five groups: I - easy (score 1), II - laparoscopic cholecystectomy with mild difficulties (score 2), III - laparoscopic cholecystectomy with major difficulties (score 3), IV - difficult (score 4), V - conversion to open surgery is expected (score 5). This model was preoperatively applied in patients with cholelithiasis included in group B. Results. The overall predictability of the model was 82%. The greatest prediction accuracy was achieved in groups II and III (98.3% and 100%, respectively). Conversion to open cholecystectomy was predicted in 76% of patients. Conclusion. Based on certain preoperative parameters it is possible to establish a model to predict a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.