CHOLECYSTECTOMY;

Objective: To compare the operative time, blood loss, postoperative pain andlength of hospitalization between open (OC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in Livercirrhotic patients with Child –Pugh class A & B. Study Design: Randomised Control Trial (RCT).Setting and Duration: This study was conducted at Surgical department, Holy Family Hospital,Rawalpindi from Jan 2010 to Dec 2011. Subjects and Methods: A total of 142 patients havingLiver cirrhosis secondary to Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B, who presented in OPD and ER with signsand symptoms of gall stones were randomly allocated into two groups for open (OC) andlaproscopic cholecystectomy (LC). All of them were either in Child–Pugh class A or B. Data on theabove two groups( LC &OC) was collected and analyzed for operative time, blood loss andlength of hospitalization after operation. Results: The mean blood loss in LC group was61.33+39.64 ml vs 90.84+29.88 ml in OC group, Mean operation time was 50.49+18.26 min inLC group vs 59.22+15.66 in OC group which is statistically significant (p<.05). In LC group, themean hospital stay was 1.8+.97 days, while in OC group is 2.4+.91 days which is alsostatistically significant. Conclusions: LC (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is a safe and effectiveapproach for the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with mild cirrhosis with lessblood loss, less postoperative pain, shorter operative time and decreased hospital stay.