Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Can preoperative factors predict conversion?

OBJECTIVE To determine if preoperative clinical, laboratory and radiology data can predict conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis to open procedure. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 44 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed for acute cholecystitis between August 2000 and July 2002 at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data related to age and sex of patients, maximum body temperature, white blood cell count, gallbladder wall thickness on ultrasonography and timing of surgery from onset of symptoms were collected. RESULTS The procedure was converted from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in 10 patients (23%). Conversion rate was significantly high (33% versus zero; p=0.01) if the gallbladder wall was thickened. Conversion rate was significantly low (zero versus 32%: p=0.01) if the procedure was performed within 48 hours from the onset of symptoms. The data related to age, sex, white blood cell count and body temperature did not reliably predict conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis to open procedure. There was no mortality or major morbidity. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe modality of treatment for acute cholecystitis. Factors associated with increased conversion rate are thickened gallbladder wall on ultrasonography and delay in surgery for more than 48 hours from the onset of symptoms.