BILE DUCT INJURIES FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY- A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY AT GOVERNMENT GENERAL HOSPITAL, KAKINADA

BACKGROUND This study aimed at assessing the outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) by determining the frequency of complications, especially of bile duct injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS The case files of all patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2008 and December 2016 at Government General Hospital, Kakinada were retrospectively analysed. We evaluated the data according to outcome measures, such as bile duct injury, morbidity, mortality and numbers of patients whose resections had to be converted from laparoscopic to open. RESULTS During the eight years (January 2008 and December 2016, 336 patients underwent LC for chronic cholecystitis (CC), of whom 22 (6.5%) developed complications. Among those who developed complications, two patients had major bile duct injuries (0.4%); 43 other patients (12.8%) had planned laparoscopic operations converted to open cholecystectomy intra-operatively. None of the patients in this study died as a result of LC. CONCLUSION Bile duct injury is a major complication of LC. Anatomical anomalies, local pathology, and poor surgical techniques are the main factors responsible. The two patients who had severe common bile duct injury in this study had major anatomical anomalies that were only recognized during surgery