Gallbladder wall Thickness at Preoperative Sonography and its Impact on Operative Outcome of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Muhammad Ibrahim Shuja, Faiz ur Rahman, Aamir Ali Khan, Muhammad Kashif,
Zia Ullah and Muhammad Ali

ABSTRACT

Objective: To explore the Gallbladder wall thickness at Preoperative Sonography and Its Impact on Operative Outcome of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Study Design: prospective observational study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the department of general surgery Bacha Khan Medical Complex/Gajju Khan Medical College-SWABI from July 2023 to   February 2024.

Methods: after taking permission from the ethical board of the institute. A total of 354 participants already diagnosed gallbladder diseases and planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled.  Participants were categorized into four categories based on the gallbladder wall thickness determined by ultrasonography: normal thickness, which was up to 2 mm, mild thickness, which was 3–4 mm, moderate thickness, which was 5–6 mm, and severe thickness, which was more than 6 mm. A thickness of up to two millimeters was regarded as normal.

Results: The groups with moderate and severe wall thickness experienced higher conversion rate as well as intraoperative or post-surgical complications. The group that is significantly thicker has the highest incidence of complications. Consequences were seen in 100% of individuals in the significantly thickened group. Higher thickness groups had longer operating times and longer hospital stays after surgery. Gallbladder wall thickness as well as conversion rate, surgical complications, and duration of stay after surgery were all statistically significantly correlated.

Conclusion: It was concluded from our study that Gallbladder wall thickness at Preoperative Sonography results in a higher incidence of conversion to open procedures, increased surgical times, more intraoperative and postoperative problems, and a longer duration of hospital stay after surgery.

Key Words: Gallbladder; Wall thickness; Preoperative Sonography; Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy