Epidemiology of biliary diseases and their laparoscopic management in a basic hospital

Epidemiología de las enfermedades biliares y su manejo laparoscópico en un hospital básico.

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstone disease due to its lower morbidity, faster recovery, and reduced hospital stay. However, its success may be influenced by institutional factors and appropriate surgical planning. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of laparoscopic management of biliary pathologies in a basic-level hospital.

Method

A descriptive, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted on 413 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients with symptomatic gallstones and acute-on-chronic cholecystitis were included. Those with a history of major abdominal surgeries, severe coagulopathies, or malignant biliary pathology were excluded. Clinical and surgical variables were analyzed, including age, sex, type of surgery, procedure duration, hospital stay, conversions, and postoperative complications.

Results

The majority of patients were women (73.4%) with a mean age of 42 ± 12 years. 91% were diagnosed with uncomplicated gallstone disease. Elective surgeries accounted for 94.7%, with operative times ranging from 61 to 90 minutes in 48.4% of cases. The most frequent hospital stay was 1 to 3 days (82.3%). The conversion rate to open surgery was 2.7%, and postoperative complications occurred in 4.4%, predominantly in emergency procedures.

Conclusions

Evidence shows that laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in basic-level hospitals presents a low incidence of complications, provided that proper patient selection and adequate surgical planning are ensured.