Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: analysis of risk factors for predicting conversion to open cholecystectomy.

AIM: to assess the usefulness of different clinical and ultrasound parameters to identify patients at high risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. METHODS: we retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and preoperative ultrasonographic images of 80 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: eight clinical and nine ultrasound parameters were assessed. Our statistical analysis showed that ultrasound imaging indicated two risk factors for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a scleroatrophic gallbladder and dilation of the intrahepatic biliary ducts. A gallbladder wall thicker than 6 mm was also considered a risk factor, although this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: our results suggest that preoperative ultrasonography is useful in selecting patients who are highly likely to require conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery.