Validation of a surgical difficulty grading system in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Abstract Background The surgical difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis varies from case to case, and appropriate intraoperative evaluation would help prevent bile duct injury (BDI). Methods We analyzed 178 patients who underwent LC for acute cholecystitis. Expert surgeons and trainees individually evaluated the surgical difficulty. The inter‐rater agreement was analyzed using Conger's κ and Gwet's agreement coefficient (AC). Furthermore, we analyzed the predictive surgical difficulty item for performing subtotal cholecystectomy (STC). Results Regarding the inter‐rater agreement between expert surgeons and trainees, 15 of the 17 surgical difficulty items had a Gwet's AC of 0.5 or higher, indicating “moderate” agreement or higher. Furthermore, the highest and total surgical difficulty scores were deemed “substantial” agreement. Scarring and dense fibrotic changes around the Calot's triangle area with easy bleeding with/without necrotic changes were predictive of whether STC should be performed. Conclusions This surgical difficulty grading system is expected to be a tool that can be used by any surgeon with LC experience. STC should be performed to prevent BDI according to the changes around the Calot's triangle area.