Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Systematic review and meta-analysis of predictors of failure

Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy has proven to be a safe and cost-effective technique; however, it is not yet a universally widespread procedure. The aim of the study was to determine the predictive factors of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis methodology. MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and ISRCTN Registry were searched. The main variables were demographic (age, sex), clinical (weight, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, previous complicated biliary pathology, history of abdominal surgery in supramesocolic compartment, gallbladder wall thickness), and surgical factors (operative time, afternoon surgery). The secondary variables were the prevalence rates of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure due to pain or postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Fourteen studies (4,194 patients) were included, with a mean outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure rate of 23.4%. The predictors of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure were: age ≥65 years (odds ratio: 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-3.86; P = .0009), body mass index ≥30 (odds ratio: 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.45; P = .03), American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥III (odds ratio: 2.89; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-4.87; P < .0001), previous complicated biliary pathology (odds ratio: 2.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.40-4.06; P = .001), gallbladder wall thickening (odds ratio: 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.34-4.04; P = .003), surgical time exceeding 60 minutes (mean difference: -16.03; 95% confidence interval,-21.25 to -10.81; P < .00001), and the beginning of surgery after 1:00 pm (odds ratio: 4.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.97-11.96; P = .007). Sex (odds ratio: 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.57, P = .73) and history of abdominal surgery in the supramesocolic compartment (odds ratio: 2.32; 95 confidence interval, 0.92-5.82, P = .07) were not associated with outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure.

Our meta-analysis allowed us to identify the predictors of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy failure. The knowledge of these factors could help surgeons in their decision-making process for the selection of patients who are suitable for outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy.