A study of impact of gender on operative findings and outcome in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a prevalent health problem around the globe and the treatment of choice for symptomatic GSD is laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). There are many factors that influence the operative findings, conversion rates and the outcome of surgery. Male gender has been considered by some to be an adverse factor in this regard. Through this study we intend to find out the role of gender in the operative findings and outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: All the patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy at SMI Hospital, Dehradun during one year period were included in the study with certain exceptions. The details of clinical presentation, operative findings and conversion rates, duration of surgery and peri-operative complications were recorded separately for male and female patients and compared. Results: A total of 402 patients were included in the study. 72 (17.9%) were male and 330 (82%) were female. The mean duration of surgery was significantly greater in the male group (66 min) as compared to female group (60.5 min). The rate of conversion to open surgery was not significantly different in the two groups. There was no significant difference in frequencies of complications in the two groups. Conclusions: Gender has little role as far as overall morbidity and conversion to open surgery are concerned in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.