An analysis of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy

Background: Gallstones are a common disease affecting mankind since time immemorial and surgical removal of the gallbladder by laparoscopic method has  become the common procedure and the gold standard. Our study is to have an insight into the reasons for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy.
Materials and methods: A series of 236  cholelithiasis patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and those converted to open cholecystectomy  were evaluated.
Results: 236 consecutive patients of cholelithiasis were studied. Age of the patients ranged from 14 years to 72 years. The mean age of the patients was 36.31 ± 12.95. The common reasons for conversion were dense adhesions in the calot’s triangle and bleeding.
Conclusion:  The conversion rate was 2.5% in our study. There should be a low threshold for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in difficult situations.