Postoperative complications of cholecystectomy in Victorian public hospitals

Cholecystectomies in Victorian public hospitals were evaluated by analysis of hospital morbidity data. The Victorian Inpatient Minimum Dataset (VIMD) contains data on postoperative complications from all cholecystectomies in Victorian public hospitals. Hospital separations associated with cholecystectomy were identified according to Australian national diagnosis-related groups and the procedures were grouped as open, laparoscopic or conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy (conversion). Postoperative complications were identified by ICD9-CM external-cause codes (E-codes) in the VIMD. The 35593 cholecystectomies performed between 1987-88 and 1993-94 were analysed. A further detailed analysis of all cholecystectomies performed in 1993 was based on logistic regression. This identified the adjusted odds (AOR) of occurrence of complications and included covariates of age, sex, admission type, diagnosis-related group and hospital identification code. The annual frequency of cholecystectomy increased after introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1990, and was associated with an increase in rates of separations having adverse events, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy had the lowest rate (66.7 per 1000 separations). Adverse-event rates for open procedures increased to 157.5 per 1000 in 1993-94, and for conversions to 290.0 per 1000. Of 5627 cholecystectomies in 1993, 74.4 per cent were laparoscopic, 21.5 per cent open and 4.1 per cent conversions. Postoperative complications were more likely in males (AOR 1.67, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.38 to 2.04), in patients admitted as an emergency (1.27, CI 1.01 to 1.60), and in those having open cholecystectomies (2.25, 1.78 to 2.85) or conversions (4.29, 3.05 to 6.03). Analysis of the VIMD has provided information for the evaluation of cholecystectomy. The VIMD is a useful tool for monitoring postoperative complications and the quality of care in Victorian hospitals.