Evaluation of Risk Factors for Postoperative Infection in 176 Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy at a Single Center.

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the standard minimally invasive treatment for benign gallbladder diseases worldwide; however, postoperative infections remain a clinically significant complication requiring further investigation of patient-related and perioperative-related risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors for postoperative infection in 176 patients undergoing LC. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this single-center retrospective study, 176 consecutive patients who underwent LC between June 2023 and May 2025 were included. Postoperative infection was defined according to the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. Patients were divided into infected (n=35) and noninfected (n=141) groups. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, perioperative variables, and preoperative serum albumin levels were collected. Group differences were compared using χ² tests or independent-samples t tests, and variables with P<0.05 in univariate analysis were entered into multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. RESULTS Postoperative infection occurred in 19.9% (35/176) of patients. Multivariate logistic regression showed that age ≥60 years, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, presence of gallbladder stones, acute inflammation of the gallbladder, operation timing >72 hours, operation time >2 hours, postoperative drainage tube retention time >5 days, and decreased preoperative albumin were independent risk factors for postoperative infection (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS In patients undergoing LC, older age, cardiometabolic comorbidities, gallbladder pathology, and several modifiable perioperative factors, including delayed surgery, prolonged operation and drainage, and low serum ALB, are associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection. Early optimization of these factors may help reduce postoperative infections and improve outcomes.