The Role of Prophylactic Antibiotics in Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy has a low risk for infectious complications, but many surgeons still use prophylactic antibiotics. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the necessity and test the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative infection complications in low-risk patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Low-risk patients were randomly placed into 2 groups: 68 patients (group 1) received cefazolin 1g intravenously after induction of anesthesia, and 76 patients (group 2) were not given prophylactic antibiotics. In both groups, septic complications were recorded and compared. RESULTS: Positive bile culture and gallbladder rupture did not significantly increase the rate of surgical site infections. In group 1, there were 3 (4.41%) cases of wound infection, 3 (4.41%) cases of pulmonary infections, and 1 (1.47%) case of urinary tract infection. In group 2, there were 2 (2.63%) cases of wound infection, 2 (2.63%) case of pulmonary infections, and 3 (3.95%) cases of urinary tract infection. No significant difference existed in the complication rates. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our data, the use of prophylactic antibiotics does not decrease the rate of postoperative infection complications and surgical-site infections and is not necessary in low-risk patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.