Objective:

To describe the risks associated with subtotal cholecystectomy in patients with difficult cholecystectomy.

Material and methods:

A two-year review of the database of the Hospital General León was performed within the period January 2013-December 2015. This is a retrospective study with reconstructed cohort analyzes that determine the risks associated with the intervention.

Results:

Reporting 18 patients operated on for subtotal cholecystectomy due to difficult cholecystectomy. In 18 patients included in the study, the associated morbidity of 44.4% (33.4% bile leak, 5.5% surgical site infection and 5.5% residual choledocholithiasis) was found. The most frequent postoperative complication is bile leakage, 83.3% resolved non-operatively and 16.7% required ERCP with a sphincterotomy for its resolution. No associated mortality or bile duct injuries were found in this cohort.

Conclusion:

Subtotal cholecystectomy is a safe, feasible and reproducible procedure as a management option for difficult cholecystectomy and that maintains the incidence of bile duct injury on neutral margins.