RANDOMIZED TRIAL OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY AND MINI-CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Three hundred and ten patients having elective cholecystectomy were ra ndomized to either laparoscopic cholecystectomy or mini-cholecystectom y. There were 155 patients in each group. Conversion to open cholecyst ectomy was significantly more common with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (13 versus 4 per cent) and complications were significantly more freq uent with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (9 versus 3 per cent). If lapar oscopic cholecystectomy was successful, hospital stay was significantl y shorter than for mini-cholecystectomy (2 versus 3 days respectively) , but overall the hospital stay was not significantly different. Posto perative analgesia requirements were reduced and return to normal acti vities and to work were faster after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The re was no significant cost difference between the two procedures.