Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with early cirrhosis.

Traditionally, cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients has been reserved for patients with severe biliary disease, because of the high morbidity and mortality in cirrhotic patients undergoing this procedure. Laparoscopic cholecytectomy (LC) was originally contraindicated in cirrhotic patients because of the associated portal hypertension and coagulopathy. This study examined the safety of LC in Child's class A patients.A review was conducted of all patients with cirrhosis who underwent cholecystectomy at our hospital between 1990 and 1998.Fifteen patients with cirrhosis had their gallbladder removed laparoscopically during that time period. All patients were Child's class A. The average age was 59 (range, 36-85). The operative indications included acute cholecystitis (5 patients), biliary pacreatitis (4 patients), biliary colic (5 patients), and cholangitis (1 patients). Six patients had known cirrhosis, and 9 were examined intraoperatively. The average operative time was 105 minutes. None of the patients required a blood transfusion. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. No deaths occurred. Postoperative stay was 3 days or less in all but 3 patients.These results compare favorably to other published studies from outside of the United States. Based on our findings, we believe LC can be performed safely in patients with class A cirrhosis.