Safety Landmarks in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy stands as one of today’s most frequently performed medical procedures. The advent of laparoscopy and its widespread availability has instilled confidence in patients worldwide, leading them to embrace it as a preferred treatment. Given the procedure’s extensive adoption by surgeons across all skill levels—from novices to experts—it becomes imperative to establish a set of guidelines to ensure its safety for patients. With each patient exhibiting a distinct anatomical makeup and the complexity of surgeries ranging from straightforward cholecystectomies to intricate cases involving a frozen Calot’s triangle, it becomes paramount to approach gallbladder surgeries meticulously to avert any potential harm. Given its global prevalence, even a 0.1% complication rate translates to a significant figure. Therefore, practicing safe cholecystectomy is advocated strongly. This chapter provides the fundamental structure for performing a safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Encompassed within the chapter are insights into identifying critical landmarks for assessing the positioning of vital structures when confronted with compromised anatomical conditions.