CHOLECYSTECTOMY TODAY

Between 13 June 1990 and 12 June 1993, we performed 1145 consecutive c holecystectomies. 127 patients who had undergone additional surgery we re excluded from the prospective study. Of the remaining 1018 patients , 806 (78.2%) underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The conversion r ate to open procedure was 11.2% (90/806). The operative morbidity asso ciated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 2.1% (17/806) and with op en surgery 1.9% (4/212); mortality was 0.12% (1/806) and 0.47% (1/212) respectively. The reoperation rate after laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 0.6% (5/806). Reoperation was performed for lesions of the common bile duct, bleeding, and abscess formation. If the indications for op en cholecystectomy are respected the morbidity and mortality were low for both laparoscopic and conventional cholecystectomy.