Conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy; Rate and causes

Objective: To find the conversion rate and the causes associated with the conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomies to open cholecystectomies and the causes complicating this surgery at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar. Methodology: This observational prospective study was carried out at Department of Surgery, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan from January 2017 to December 2017. Surgical notes for all laparoscopic cholecystectomies undertaken were documented using a standard proforma immediately after surgery and analyzed using the latest version of SPSS. All patients having symptomatic gall stones disease, subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. Patients who were lost to follow up and those with incomplete laboratory and histopathology records were excluded from study. Results: Out of 300 cases, a total of 21 cases were converted from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy. Conclusion: The overall rate of conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy was 7%, the most important cause was difficult surgery due to adhesions.