Laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy: a retrospective study of 40 cases

Throughout the world, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a widely accepted surgical treatment for both acute and chronic cholecystitis. It provides total relief of pre-surgical symptoms in up to 85% of patients. However, about 5% of patients may experience severe episodes of upper abdominal pain similar to those that they had prior to cholecystectomy; this is known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. Gallbladder remnant with calculi is one of the causative factors. However, there have been only a few case series related to this reported in literature to date. Herein, we present our experience with laparoscopic management of gallbladder remnant with calculi in 40 cases.

A retrospective study of 40 cases was carried out in our institution. All patients underwent open cholecystectomy at other centres, and their cases were managed by laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy.

The mean operating time was 102.4 min (range, 60-120 min). The duration of hospital stay was 2-4 days. Two cases were converted to open surgery because of extensive dense adhesions. One case had minor a common bile duct injury, and another had port-site infection. There were no cases of mortality.

Gallbladder remnant containing stones may be the cause of otherwise unexplained postcholecystectomy pain. Completion cholecystectomy offers a definitive treatment for any residual gallbladder remnant and can be performed laparoscopically.