Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy With Retro-infundibular Approach
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy With Retro-infundibular Approach
Aimed to evaluate laparoscopic cholecystectomy by retro-infundibular (RI) approach compared
 to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SLC) in difficult cases with scarred
 chole-cystohepatic (Calot's) triangle.
This study is a prospective cohort study, conducted in Minia university hospital and Minia
 insurance hospital in the period from July 2013 to January 2016, where 597 patients with
 gallstones were admitted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were done by the same surgeon.
 Based on the preoperative scoring system to predict the degree of difficulty in laparoscopic
 cholecystectomy, patients that had the score > 6 and were fit for laparoscopic surgery were
 included in the study. Only 125 met these criteria and agreed to share in the study and gave
 their informed consent. 60 patients were operated by SLC (Group 1).This included the classic
 dissection of Calot's triangle to achieve the CVS, with separate clipping and division of
 cystic duct and artery. While, 65 patients were operated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy
 using RI approach (Group 2). This included separation of the lower third of GB from its bed
 down to its pedicle (artery and duct) with mass ligation of both.

 Operative procedure of by RI approach:

 The site of trocars was the same as for the standard cholecystectomy. After dissection of
 adhesion masking the GB, if present, to reach the Hartmann pouch, at this point Calot's
 triangle usually was scarred and frozen, the surgeon never tried to dissect it and instead
 the surgeon continued as follow :

 1. De-shouldering of GB: by incising the serosal covering on either side of the
 infundibulum and lower part of the body.

 2. This followed by dissection and separation of the lower third of GB body from its bed,
 using suction-irrigation probe or hook dissector. Dissection continued downward till the
 GB pedicle (duct and artery).

 3. Mass ligation of cystic artery and duct, using intracorporeal note by vicryl number 1
 suture.

 4. Then the surgeon cut above the ligature using diathermy on scissor or ultrasound sealing
 device. During this step the cut end of the GB was grasped by forceps trying to prevent
 spillage of its content, if happened, stones were collected in a bag and extracted.

 5. Then GB was dissected from its bed as usual and extracted in a bag. In cases where the
 GB was hugely distended, it was aspirated firstly to facilitate its grasping. Also in
 cases of Mirizzi syndrome the GB was opened direct on the stone to remove it, to
 facilitate grasping of GB then we continued as described above
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  patient with gallstones

 -  score difficulty according to Gupta et al 2013 > 6

 -  patient fit for laparoscopic surgery

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  score difficulty according to Gupta et al 2013 > 6

 -  patient unfit for laparoscopic surgery

 -  refusal to share in the study