SYMPTOMATIC OUTCOME 1 YEAR AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC AND MINILAPAROTOMY CHOLECYSTECTOMY - A RANDOMIZED TRIAL

In a randomized controlled trial, 299 patients were sent a symptoms qu estionnaire 1 year after laparoscopic (n = 151) or minilaparotomy (n = 148) cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The response rat e to the questionnaire from contactable patients was 86 per cent. In b oth groups, at least 90 per cent of patients reported that their sympt oms were improved, and at least 93 per cent rated the success of their operation as 'excellent', 'good', or 'fair'. However, over half the p atients reported abdominal pain, a quarter reported flatulence, and a quarter dyspepsia. The only difference between treatment groups was th at a higher proportion of patients who underwent minilaparotomy report ed heartburn (35 per cent versus 19 per cent, P = 0.005). Patients who reported a 'poor' outcome were more likely to have suffered a postope rative complication, had lower quality of life scores, and higher anxi ety and depression scores. Both laparoscopic and minilaparotomy cholec ystectomy result in symptomatic benefit in at least 90 per cent of pat ients with symptomatic cholelithiasis.