The difficult gallbladder is the most common "difficult" laparoscopic surgery performed by general surgeons. It is also "potentially" the one that places the patient at significant risk. This article reports on our first 1,900 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. With this report, it is the desire of the authors to share our experiences and lessons learned from more than 300 difficult gallbladder cases. We surgeons must strive for no bile duct injuries. If certain principles are followed, the surgeon will be able to improve his or her completion rate and decrease (if not eliminate) bile duct injuries. First and foremost is to know when to convert to open. Performance of fluorocholangiography to define anatomy is also very helpful in avoidance of bile duct injury. The laparoscopic surgeon should start with simple cases before "graduating" to more complex cases. Lastly, the ability to suture and knot tie is key in performing advanced procedures. This skill will allow completion of cases that otherwise would have to be converted to traditional surgery.
Copyright 1998 W.B. Saunders Company.