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Updated: Jan 16, 2026
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy with Indocyanine Green Fluorescence: Choledochoscopic Stone Extraction and Primary Duct Suture
Published on: November 25, 2025
Outcomes and Drain Use in Laparoscopic vs. Converted Open Cholecystectomy Cases: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Parin Y Patel1, Milind K Akhani2, Ronak Rathod1
1General Surgery, Health1 Super Speciality Hospital, Ahmedabad, IND.
Introduction And Aim:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for gallstone disease, but conversion to open surgery may be required in difficult cases. The role of drain placement after cholecystectomy remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes of LC, with emphasis on converted cases, and to assess the impact of drains on postoperative morbidity.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 287 patients who underwent LC between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, at a tertiary care hospital. All cases were initiated laparoscopically; conversions were analyzed separately. Data on demographics, comorbidities, operative details, drain use, and postoperative outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables, with p<0.05 considered significant.
Results:
Of 287 patients, 272 were eligible for analysis; 223/272 (82.0%) underwent completed LC, and 49/272 (18.0%) required conversion. Converted cases had longer operative times (median, 90 min vs. 60 min; p<0.001), higher complication rates (15/49, 30.6% vs. 25/223, 11.2%; p=0.001), and longer hospital stays (median, seven vs. four days; p<0.001). In completed LC, drains were used in 30/223 (13.5%) patients, while in conversions, 32/49 (65.3%) received drains. Drain placement did not significantly reduce complications in either group but was associated with prolonged hospitalization (five vs. four days in completed LC, p=0.03; eight vs. six days in conversions, p=0.04).
Conclusion:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was safe and effective, with most procedures completed laparoscopically. Conversion was associated with increased morbidity and longer recovery. Drain placement did not reduce postoperative complications in either completed or converted cases, but was associated with prolonged hospital stay. Selective use should be reserved for technically challenging situations.
