Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis of risk factors for predicting conversion to open cholecystectomy

AIM: to assess the usefulness of different clinical and ultrasound paramete rs to identify patients at high risk of conversion from laparoscopic to ope n cholecystectomy. METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and preoperative ultrasonographic images of 80 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecyst ectomy. RESULTS: eight clinical and nine ultrasound parameters were assessed. Our s tatistical analysis showed that ultrasound imaging indicated two risk facto rs for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a scleroatroph ic gallbladder and dilation of the intrahepatic biliary ducts. A gallbladde r wall thicker than 6 mm was also considered a risk factor, although this d ifference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest that preoperative ultra sonography is usef ul in selecting patients who are highly likely to require conversion from l aparoscopic to open surgery.