Simple Blood Tests May Be Used to Predict the Increased Risk of Conversion in Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Surgery

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the possibility if simple blood tests that can be made in majority of hospitals may be used predict to risk of conversion to laparoscopic surgery to an open approach. Patients and Methods: The hospital records of 636 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (L-C) were retrospectively reviewed, and 583 patients included in the study protocol. Preoperative laboratory tests of all patients and data of patients who underwent conversion from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery were examined. Results: Of the 583 patients who were included in the study, 404 (69.29%) were female and the mean age was 50.02 +/- 12.84 (19-89) years. The cholecystectomy was completed laparoscopically in 559 (89.5%) patients. The most common symptoms seen in the patients were epigastric discomfort and right upper quadrant pain. The high level of white blood cell (WBC) count and c-reactive protein (CRP) were found to be statistically significant before surgery in patients who had a conversion to open cholecystectomy (P < .001). Conclusion: Elevation of WBC count and CRP value before elective L-C may be useful in the prediction of a high risk of conversion from laparoscopic to open approach. This finding will help the surgeon to plan the treatment and inform the patient of the possibility before surgery.