From march 1990 to february 1992 we performed 600 laparoscopic cholecy
stectomies. In 18 cases we had to change to a laparotomy because of in
traoperative problems, in 3 cases we had to laparotomise patients beca
use of postoperative complications, 9 patients (1,5 %) had a wound inf
ection. In two prospective studies we could prove that patients after
laparoscopic cholecystectomy have less pain and are in a better respir
atory condition than after open cholecystectomy.