Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: review of 1430 cases in Cure International Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for the treatment of cholelithiasis in most countries of the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of LC in the surgery department of Cure International Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 1430 LC cases performed by the general surgery department of Cure International Hospital. Data was collected from patient files and the operation theatre registry for whom LC was performed during January 2008 through December, 2019. RESULTS: Mean age was 45.77 ± 13.45 years (14–90 years), with male/female ratio of 1:4.7. One third (33%) had comorbidities. Most of patients (~ 97%) were classified as ASA grade I and II. Of all patients, 26.8% of males and 13.2% of females had gallbladder inflammation (OR = 2.203, 95% CI 1.56–2.61, P = 0.000). Overall mean duration of anesthesia was 75 ± 25.6 min. The conversion rate to OC was 4.6% (N = 66), most commonly dense adhesions at Callot’s triangle (3.8%). The intraoperative complication rate was 17.5% (N = 249), where bile/stone spillage was the most common indication (N = 235, 16.4%). Immediate postoperative complication rate was 2.4% (N = 35). Average length of stay (ALOS) after LC was 2.23 ± 1.43 days (1–19 days). CONCLUSION: This study shows that elective LC can be performed safely in Afghanistan with comparable outcomes in terms of complications, conversion rates, and ALOS to other countries of the region and the world. Proper case selection and careful preoperative evaluation and management can decrease further conversion, intra- and postoperative complications.