A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON PREOPERATIVE PREDICTIVE FACTORS FOR DIFFICULT LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the standard treatment for gallstone disease. However, predicting surgical difculty preoperatively remains a challenge. Identifying risk factors can help optimize patient management and improve outcomes. This study aims to evaluate specic demograph Objective: ic, clinical, biochemical, and radiological predictors of difcult LC. This prospective observational st Methods: udy included 50 patients undergoing LC at MIMS General Hospital between July 2022 and December 2023. Patients were assessed preoperatively for demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, laboratory ndings, and imaging parameters. Intraoperative factors such as surgery duration, blood loss, and conversion to open surgery were recorded. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, with a signicance threshold of p<0.05. Older age (≥40 years, 72%), female Results: gender (70%), and BMI >30 (p=0.031) were signicantly associated with surgical difculty. Gallbladder wall thickness >4mm correlated with prolonged surgery (p=0.0054) and increased bleeding (p=0.002) [1,2]. Elevated total leukocyte count (>11,000) was linked to greater blood loss (p=0.0022) and longer surgery duration (p=0.052) [3,4]. Distended or contracted gallbladders were associated with increased bleeding (p=0.02) [5]. In contrast, previous surgery, number of stones, and stone size did not signicantly impact surgical difculty [6]. Gallbladder wall thickness, BMI, and TLC are key predict Conclusion: ors of difcult LC. Preoperative risk assessment incorporating these factors can improve patient outcomes and surgical planning.