Gangrenous cholecystitis in the laparoscopic era.

Background: We reviewed our data of laparoscopic cholecystectomies between 1990 and 1997 with reference to gangrenous cholecystitis.

Methods: In a consecutive series of 1304 patients having laparoscopic cholecystectomies, prospective data collection has permitted analysis of the relationship between gangrenous cholecystitis (GC), acute (non-gangrenous) cholecystitis (AC) and non-acute cholecystectomies (NAC).

Results: Twenty-five patients had gangrenous cholecystitis and 238 had acute cholecystitis. We found that patients with GC were significantly older (65.4 years vs 56.1 years (AC) and 52.7 years (NAC), P < 0.05) and had a higher M: F ratio (1.5:1 vs 1:2.6 (AC) and 1:2.8 (NAC), P < 0.05). Cardiac disease was found to be a significant factor but not diabetes. Preoperative ultrasonography correctly identified only 17 patients with acute inflammatory changes. Seven patients had an absent sonographic Murphy's sign. The gall bladder wall was generally thicker (4.11 mm vs 3.8 mm (AC) and 2.7 mm (NAC), P < 0.05) but there was marked overlap between the three groups. The common bile duct (CBD) was more dilated (6.1 mm vs 4.8 mm (AC) and 4.6 mm (NAC), P < 0.006) and there was increased incidence of CBD stones in the GC group. Our conversion rate was 8.7% with minimal complications and no operative mortality.

Conclusion: Patients with GC were generally older, more likely to be male and had increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Preoperative ultrasound cannot accurately identify those patients with gangrenous cholecystitis, but with conversion rates of 8.7% and no operative mortality, they can generally be managed safely with laparoscopic surgical techniques.