Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Our experience in a rural setup

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard in symptomatic gallstone disease. Today more than 80% of cholecystectomies worldwide are carried out laparoscopically. The present study describes our experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a rural setup. Aim: To study the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a rural setup. Settings and Design: Prospective study done at R. L. Jallapa Hospital Tamaka Kolar from January 2003 to November 2012. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the same surgeon were included. Results: Out of the 120 patients, 108 (90%) were females and 12 (10%) were males. Their age ranged from 16 to 75 years. Majority were in fourth decade of life. Majority of the patients [70 (58.3%)] had gallstones. The procedure was converted to open cholecystectomy in six patients. Twenty-four patients had minor complications. Majority of the patients stayed in the hospital postoperatively for less than 5 days. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our setup proved to be a safe procedure and an effective treatment for gallstone disease.

Keywords

• Gallstone diseases
• laparoscopic cholecystectomy
• rural setup