Laparoscopic cholecystectomy--evaluation of a prospective follow-up study
Függer, R.; Klimann, S.; Gnant, M.; Herbst, F.; Schulz, F.; Fritsch, A.
Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift 104(20): 640-643
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0043-5325 PMID: 1441563 Document Number: 396870
A report is presented on 105 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy because of symptomatic gallstone disease. Preoperative and intraoperative findings, complications and results were prospectively documented. In four (3.8%) patients the laparoscopic procedure had to be converted into open cholecystectomy. There were only minor surgical complications such as wound infection and a subhepatic haematoma. On average, patients were discharged on the second postoperative day. The operating time decreased from a median of 98 minutes in the first half to 73 minutes in the second half of the study, despite augmentation of the number of surgeons and of the indications to include patients with acute cholecystitis (n = 11), previous upper abdominal surgery (n = 7) and cirrhosis (n = 2).