Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese patients: 110 cases
Champault, G.; Colon, A.; Rizk, N.; Benoit, J.; Fabre, F.; Boutelier, P.
Chirurgie; Memoires de l'Academie de Chirurgie 121(1): 15-18
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-4001 PMID: 8761699 Document Number: 460914
110 obese patients who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy were compared with a group of controls, the operative time (108 mn), the conversion rate to laparotomy (4.5% vs 1.8%) and the incidence of drainage (26 vs 11%) were significantly raised in the obese patients. However there was no difference in the mortality (0), the feasibility of intraoperative cholangiography, the hospital stay, the morbidity or the time off work when compared with the controls. In particular the incidence of wound infections, thromboembolic or respiratory complications (frequent in conventional surgery on the obese) was not significantly different to the control group operated on laparoscopically. This study supports that laparoscopic approach is an elective procedure for obese patients.