Suture Closure Using a Barbed Suture in Five Cases of Laparoscopic Subtotal Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Here we report 5 cases of severe cholecystitis in which we performed laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy with continuous suture closure of the remaining gallbladder using a barbed suture (V-Loc^TM) and obtained good short-term results.

We experienced a total of five cases of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy using a barbed suture in patients with severe cholecystitis between April 2020 and February 2021. Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy was indicated for patients in whom we had difficulty in creating the Calot triangle due to severe inflammation. The suture closure of the remaining gallbladder, using a barbed suture, was performed with full-layer continuous sutures.

The mean operative time was 198 minutes (150-270), and the mean blood loss was 138 ml (15-300). No biliary fistula was observed in all patients. The average postoperative hospital stay was 12.6 days (11-16), and all patients had no postoperative bile leak and residual cholecystitis and cholangitis.

In performing laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy, the barbed suture closure of the remaining gallbladder is simple technically and has good short-term results.