Introduction: Gallbladder perforation (GBP) is a rare disease with potential mortality. Previous series have reported an incidence of approximately 2-11% and it still continues to be a significant problem for surgeons.
Aim: To present our clinical experience with gallbladder perforation.
Material and methods: The records of 2754 patients who received surgical treatment for cholelithiasis between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred thirty-three patients had gallbladder perforation. Age, gender, time from the onset of symptoms, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment, morbidity and mortality rates were evaluated.
Results: 15.78% of patients had a body mass index > 35. 6.76% had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 6.76% had cardiac disease, 10.52% had diabetes and 4.51% had sepsis. American Society of Anesthesiology scores were I in 54.13%, II in 35.33%, III in 6.01% and IV in 4.51% of the patients. 27.81% of patients were diagnosed during surgery. The perforation site was the gallbladder fundus in 69.17%, body in 17.30%, Hartman's pouch in 10.53% and cystic duct in 3% of patients. Treatment modalities were laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 82.71%, open cholecystectomy in 3%, percutaneous drainage catheters + laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 3%, laparoscopic cholecystectomy + fistula repair in 10.53% and open cholecystectomy + fistula repair in 0.75% of patients. Mean length of hospital stay was 1.69 days. Mortality and morbidity rates were 8.27% and 10.52%, respectively. Histopathology results were acute cholecystitis in 69.93%, chronic cholecystitis in 20.30% and acute exacerbation over chronic cholecystitis in 9.77% of patients.
Conclusions: Appropriate classification and management of perforated cholecystitis is essential. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and feasible method to decrease morbidity in gallbladder perforations.
Keywords: acute cholecystitis; cholecystectomy; fistula; gallbladder perforation.