Safety and efficacy of a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the morbid and super obese patients

BackgroundAlthough a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis, its safety and efficacy in the morbidly/super obese patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of an elective LC in the morbid/super obese patients.MethodsA retrospective review of the hospital electronic database and medical records was conducted searching for all elective LC from 2010 to 2013. The data collected included patient demographics and body mass index (BMI), length of hospital stay (LOS), duration of surgery (DOS), intra‐ and post‐operative complications, bile duct injuries, performance of an intra‐operative cholangiogram, the incidence of open conversion and the seniority of the operator.ResultsA total of 799 patients (76% female) with a mean age of 46 years and BMI of 31 were included in this study. There were significant differences in the median DOS between the three BMI groups; BMI < 26 [64 min; interquartile range (IQR) 54–83]; BMI 26–40 (72 min, IQR 58–91) and BMI > 40 (82 min, IQR 63–104), P < 0.001. There were no statistically significant differences in the LOS, peri‐operative complication rates, open conversions or bile duct injuries among the BMI groups.ConclusionsThis study showed that LC can be performed safely in the morbid/super obese patients.