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.