What is the best score for predicting difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy? A diagnostic trial study

BACKGROUND: Multiple scores have been created in order to predict difficult cholecystectomy, nonetheless there is not a consensuated standard on which to use. The importance of a predictive score to be able to establish a difficult cholecystectomy would be a relevant instrument in order to better inform the patient, properly call for help when needed, choose the correct staff, and schedule and plan the surgical procedure accordingly. METHODS: A diagnostic trial study was performed. All different predictive scores for difficult cholecystectomy were calculated for each patient. The correlation between the preoperative score and cholecystectomies considered as "difficult" were measured estimating the preoperative score's predictive value using a receiver operating characteristics curve in order to predict findings for difficult cholecystectomy. RESULTS: A total of 635 patients between 2014 and 2021 were selected. Selected patients had a mean age of 55.0 (interquartile range: 28.00) and were mostly female (64.25%). Surgical outcomes of patients with difficult cholecystectomy had statistically significant higher rates of subtotal cholecystectomies, drain usage, complications and reinterventions, prolonged surgical times, and longer hospital stay. When analyzing the predictive value on each of the different scores applied, score 4 had the highest performance for predicting difficult cholecystectomy with an area under the curve=0.783 (CI 95% 0.745-0.822). CONCLUSIONS: Difficult cholecystectomies are associated with worse surgical outcomes. The standardization and use of predictive scores for difficult cholecystectomy must be implemented in order to improve surgical outcomes as a result of more meticulous planning when scheduling the procedure.