Clinical Demographics of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Gender-Specific Analysis

Abstract

Given the evolving clinical demographics and both surgical and perioperative management strategies related to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LAP-CHOL), continued monitoring of patient characteristics undergoing this procedure is of value. In an analysis of 2 345 246 patients who underwent LAP-CHOL identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project’s Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample from 1/2016-12/2019 (female n = 1 722 420 [73.4%] and male n = 622 827 [26.6%]), female patients were more likely to be younger and obese but less likely to be smoker and have medical comorbidity compared to male patients. Moreover, female patients were more likely to have a diagnosis of cholelithiasis but less likely to have a diagnosis of cholecystitis compared to male patients. This was particularly robust in younger age. In conclusion, this contemporary national-level analysis suggested that there are distinct differences in the clinical characteristics of patients undergoing LAP-CHOL according to gender. Awareness and reconciliation of these gender-specific differences would be important in clinical practice.