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Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in black patients at Ga-Rankuwa Hospital: a feasibility study
Objective:
To determine feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for Black patients in Ga-Rankuwa Hospital and to analyse the type of stones harvested.
Design:
Cross sectional description study.
Setting:
Ga-Rankuwa Hospital/Medunsa, South Africa.
Subjects:
79 patients who presented with cholelithiasis over a six year period.
Main Outcome Measures:
Successful performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the subjects.
Results:
39 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed with seven conversions (18% conversion rate). Forty open cholecystectomies were also performed. Post operative stay after laparoscopic cholecystectomy averaged 3.5 days and that of the open converted group 6.9 days (p < 0.001). Two patients returned with persistence of symptoms following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Twenty gall stones were analysed; 17 were of the cholesterol type and three of the black pigment type.
Conclusions:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible in the Black populace of Ga-Rankuwa Hospital. The majority of gallstones are of the cholesterol type.