Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not yet routinely performed in most public tertiary hospitals in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the feasibility and early outcoe of laparoscopic cholecystectoy in Ile-ife, Nigeria.

METHOD: Consecutive patients who were selected for the procedure from June 2009 through December 2010 at the Ife State Hospital of the ObafemiAwolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife were prospectively studied.

RESULTS

Eighteen female (75%) and six male patients had laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the study period. They were aged 19-83 years with a mean age of 33.4 years. Six (25%) patients had acute calculous cholecystitis while the rest presented with chronic calculous cholecystitis. Their Body Mass Indices ranged from 21 to 32kg/m2. Operation time ranged from 65 to 105 minutes. One procedure (4%) was converted to open due to bleeding from the gallbladder bed. Another patient who had a minor common bile duct injury presented with generalized dull abdominal pain on the sixth postoperative day. She had open repair of the injury over a T-tube. Three patients (12.5%) were discharged on the first postoperative day while 15 (62.5%) others were discharged on the second postoperative day. No mortality was recorded.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible in our setting with outcome comparable to previous pioneering experiences in other African countries centre in spite of resource limitations.