Frequency of bile leak after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: audit of a surgical residency program

After the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystec- tomy (LC), a significant rise in the incidence of bile duct injuries (BDI) was noticed, and even after the learning curve, the incidence has remained higher at 0.5 to 0.6 per cent.1 A large number of LCs in many district hospitals is still performed by general surgeons without a special expertise in hepatobiliary surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomies are also performed by surgical trainees in resident training programs with good results.2 Our purpose was to analyze the di- agnostic delay, frequency, and outcome of bile leaks after LC performed by general surgeons and surgical residents in a general community-based district hospital.