BackgroundIatrogenic injury to the bile ducts is the most feared complication of
cholecystectomy and several are the possibilities to occur.AimTo compare the cases of iatrogenic lesions of the biliary tract occurring in
conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, assessing the likely causal
factors, complications and postoperative follow-up.MethodsRetrospective cohort study with analysis of records of patients undergoing
conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. All the patients were analyzed in
two years. The only criterion for inclusion was to be operative bile duct injury,
regardless of location or time of diagnosis. There were no exclusion criteria.
Epidemiological data of patients, time of diagnosis of the lesion and its location
were analyzed.ResultsTotal of 515 patients with gallstones was operated, 320 (62.1 %) by laparotomy
cholecystectomy and 195 by laparoscopic approach. The age of patients with bile
duct injury ranged from 29-70 years. Among those who underwent laparotomy
cholecystectomy, four cases were diagnosed (1.25 %) with lesions, corresponding to
0.77 % of the total patients. No patient had iatrogenic interventions with
laparoscopic surgery.ConclusionLaparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to laparotomy, had a lower rate of bile duct
injury.