Assessing resectability of carcinoma gallbladder using staging laparoscopy: A cross-sectional comparative study in the South Asian context

Curative resection for gallbladder carcinoma is extremely rare, as it presents in a very advanced stage. Staging laparoscopy may improve resectability and prevent unnecessary exploration of the abdomen. The purpose of this cross-sectional comparative study was to evaluate the necessity of staging laparoscopy in patients with carcinoma gallbladder in South-Asian setting. With clinically diagnosed gallbladder carcinoma, forty-four patients were included in the present study in the Department of Hepatobiliary, Pancreatic, and Liver transplant surgery at a specialized center of South East Asia, from July 2019 to June 2020. Patients were divided equally into two groups: Group I: staging laparoscopy done, and Group II: staging laparoscopy not done. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, various imaging, and peroperative data were collected from patients’ medical records. All these data were compared between two groups. Demography, clinical, biochemical, and imaging data were similar in both groups. The resectability rate was significantly ( P < 0.027) higher in group I (84.6 %) than in group II (45.5 %). Moreover, unnecessary laparotomy was avoided in 36.36 % of cases in group I. Staging laparoscopy can increase resectability and avoid unnecessary laparotomy; thus, nonsurgical therapy can be initiated early for inoperable cases and improve patient compliance.