OBJECTIVE: To introduce an effective method for preventing bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: From January 2003 to October 2005, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on 629 patients, 335 males and 294 females, aged 46.3 (14 - 81). The common hepatic duct was exposed by blunt dissection routinely before transecting the cystic duct. RESULTS: No bile duct injury occurred. 7 cases were converted to open procedure, 5 cases for severe abdominal adhesion, one for internal fistula of bile duct to intestinal tract, and another 1 for gall bladder cancer. 2 patients had postoperative complications, one with raw surface bleeding, and the other with incision bleeding. CONCLUSION: Exposing common hepatic duct by blunt dissection in laparoscopic cholecystectomy can prevent intraoperative bile duct injury. Such procedure is simple, easy to learn and easy to apply.
OBJECTIVE: To introduce an effective method for preventing bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: From January 2003 to October 2005, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed on 629 patients, 335 males and 294 females, aged 46.3 (14 - 81). The common hepatic duct was exposed by blunt dissection routinely before transecting the cystic duct. RESULTS: No bile duct injury occurred. 7 cases were converted to open procedure, 5 cases for severe abdominal adhesion, one for internal fistula of bile duct to intestinal tract, and another 1 for gall bladder cancer. 2 patients had postoperative complications, one with raw surface bleeding, and the other with incision bleeding. CONCLUSION: Exposing common hepatic duct by blunt dissection in laparoscopic cholecystectomy can prevent intraoperative bile duct injury. Such procedure is simple, easy to learn and easy to apply.