LONG-TERM RESULTS AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTOTOMY IN A CHILD WITH SYMPTOMATIC GALLSTONE DISEASE

Cholecystotomy has been suggested for symptomatic gallstone disease in selected children. This suggestion is supported by a potential reduct ion in the frequency of the so-called postcholecystotomy syndrome. To our knowledge, laparoscopic cholecystotomy has not been reported yet. However, gallstone recurrence has been reported up to 4 years after co nventional cholecystotomy and therefore we waited to publish our resul ts for that period of time. A 12-year-old girl with idiopathic symptom atic gallstone disease and a normal kinetic of the gallbladder underwe nt laparoscopic cholecystotomy. The laparoscopic technique was similar to laparoscopic cholecystectomy but the gallbladder was left in place and multiple gallstones were removed. Intraoperative cholecystoscopy revealed three additional small stones. They were removed by subsequen t lavage of the gallbladder. Choledocholithiasis was excluded by intra operative cholangiography and the gallbladder was closed using an Endo GIA. There were no intraoperative or postoperative events. The patien t is free of complaints without recurrent gallstones on ultrasound exa mination today, 4 years after the operation. Laparoscopic cholecystoto my represents a feasible alternative to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.