Cholecystectomy in a predominantly African population before and after the advent of the laparoscopic technique

There is a paucity of information on gallbladder disease in an African population. We, therefore, conducted a study to compare the immediate pre-laparoscopic era with the laparoscopic period in the predominantly African population at the King Edward VIII Hospital.

Data from a retrospective analysis of 144 patients undergoing open cholecystectomy (OC) between January 1990 and December 1992 were compared with a prospective analysis of 156 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) between February 1992 and December 1994. Demographic data, presentation, operative management and outcome were the main factors analysed.

Eighty-two per cent were Black African and the rest of Indian origin. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) confirmed ductal stones in 11 patients in the OC and nine patients in the LC group. Endoscopic duct clearance was achieved in three and nine patients, respectively. Non biliary complications were rare. There were two major duct injuries in the OC group and one cystic duct leak in the LC group. The high conversion rate of 17.9% attests to the severity of their chronic disease making safe dissection in Calot's triangle problematic. The mortality in patients undergoing OC was 1 (0.07%) and 0% for LC. In South Africa, the hospital prevalence of calculous disease in African patients is increasing. However, cholecystectomy may be safely performed.

The absence of any mortality and any major duct injury in the LC group allude to the safety of this procedure when appropriately applied to this population group.