Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026
Application of Laparoscopic Ultrasonography in Primary Choledochal Suture during Combined Two-lens Surgery
Published on: March 28, 2025
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC): predictive role of preoperative ultrasounds
V Minutolo1, G Gagliano, C Rinzivillo
1First Surgical Department, Clinical Division of General Surgery, University Policlinic of Catania, Italy.
Aim:
We studied several ultrasounds patterns concerning gallbladder, biliary tract and gallstones to identify some predictive signs of difficulties during LC.
Patients & Methods:
112 patients (24 females), 25-75 years old, upper abdomen operated patients not included. From 7 ultrasounds patterns 4 degrees of potential intra-operative difficulty (0-3) were obtained. During the operation 7 conditions of true intra-operative problems were also classified.
Results:
Patients showing grade 0: regular gallbladder wall stones < 20 mm, regular Main Biliary Tract (MBT) = 62 LC and 2 open surgery conversion (OSC); grade 1: wall < 4 mm, stones > 20 mm= 24 LC and 7 OSC; grade 2: hydrops, wall > 4 mm, infundibular stone = 6 LC and 6 OSC, grade 3: wall > 4 mm, stones > 20 mm, empyema of gallbladder, MBT > or = 6 mm = 3 LC and 0 OSC. Inflammation near gallbladder and wall > 4 mm were mainly responsible for transition of LC in OSC.
Conclusion:
Several predictive conditions for intraoperative difficulties are often detectable by accurate preoperative ultrasounds examination, with the aim of best surgical planning and to select those patients to entrust to surgeons during their learning phase.