COMPARISON OF LAPAROSCOPIC AND MINILAP CHOLECYSTECTOMY FOR ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS

The charts of all patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing either laparoscopic or minilap cholecystectomy at the Chinle Comprehensive He alth Care Facility between October 1, 1991, and August 15, 1993, were retrospectively reviewed. During that period, 54 patients underwent la paroscopic cholecystectomy and 45 patients had minilap procedures. The two groups had similar mean age, sex distribution, temperature, leuko cyte count, gallbladder wall thickness, and duration of preoperative s ymptoms. While laparoscopic cholecystectomy took an average of 16 min longer to perform than minilap cholecystectomy, patients who had lapar oscopic cholecystectomy had less blood loss, reduced postoperative nar cotic needs, and shorter hospital stays.