Purpose: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard operation for the treatment of
symptomatic gallstones. Intraoperative gallbladder perforation is a common complication encountered
during the surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of inflammation on
gallbladder perforation during LC.
Methods: Between July 1997 and March 2003, 509 patients underwent LC for symptomatic gallstone
disease at the Department of Surgery at Vakif Gureba Training Hospital. Data were collected
retrospectively. Patients with and without gallbladder perforation were compared in terms of gender,
age, anatomic difficulty, experience of the surgeon, omental and other organ adhesions to the
gallbladder, and the findings of inflammation on the resected gallbladder.
Results: Intraoperative gallbladder perforation occurred in 85 patients (16.6%). Although no differences
were found between the perforated and nonperforated groups regarding age, gender, and
chronic inflammation on the resected gallbladder, there were significant differences in terms of acute
inflammation, anatomical difficulty, experience of the surgeon, and omental and organ adhesions.
Conclusion: Acute inflammation, degree of anatomic difficulty, the experience of the surgeon, and
omental or other organ adhesions were associated with gallbladder perforation during LC.
