Clinical and financial impact of a ‘difficult’ laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Background: Difficult intra‐operative findings during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) may lead to poor clinical outcomes. This study aimed to compare pre‐operative, intra‐operative, and post‐operative variables of patients with ‘straightforward’ versus ‘difficult’ intra‐operative findings and to assess the relationship between intra‐operative findings and post‐operative outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data from patients undergoing LC from August 1998 to December 2020 was conducted. Intra‐operative findings were graded using the North Shore system, with Grade 1 or 2 classified