Nassar operative grade and ultrasonography prediction for difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Background: ‘Gold standard’ for symptomatic cholelithiasis is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with advantagesof minimal access surgery, early return to activity with cosmetic scar. However, this may not always holdtrue in all cases. Conversion to open procedure in challenging circumstances would be in better interest of the patient even after the learning curve of the surgeon has surpassed several years. Methods: Forty patients undergoing symptomatic gall stone disease without any acute episode in past six weeks were investigated. All cases were evaluated with clinical examinations, biochemical parameters and preoperative ultrasonography done a day prior for prediction of difficult LC. All cases correlated with preoperative USG parameters and Nassar per operative grade (1-4 and 5) and analyzed for prediction to open method in difficult challenging situations. Complications associated with in 30 day of surgical interventions were also recorded. Results: Difficult cholecystectomy was anticipated with USG parameters in 20 cases, and Nassar operative grading of difficulty (Grade-3, 4 and 5) predicted in 13 cases; the latter was correlated with conversion to open methods. p<0.05 in USG parameters and Nassar grading of operative difficulty was considered significant. There were no complications nor any surgical interventions required during 30 days interval.Conclusions: Per operative Nassar grading and prior USG parameters for prediction of likelihood of difficult cholecystectomy helps in guiding surgeon in challenging situation to safely proceed to complete cholecystectomy procedure either by laparoscope or open method in the better interest of the patient.