Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: Effect on pulmonary function tests

Background/Aims: Operations often cause impairment in respiration due to pa in. This study was designed to compare the changes in pulmonary function te sts after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methodology: Two groups of 35 patients were randomly set up. Each patient h ad 3 pulmonary function tests performed and 2 postero-anterior grid chest r oentgenograms taken. All of these data were evaluated by the same group of investigators. Results: After taking into consideration the difference between pulmonary f unction tests, values were not significant (P less than or equal to 0.05). All pulmonary function test values decreased significantly on the 1st posto perative day (P less than or equal to 0.05). When postero-anterior chest ro entgenograms were compared no clinically evident atelectasis except 3 linea ry was seen in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group, whereas 5 lineary, 7 focal, and 3 segmentary atelectasia were encountered in the open cholecyst ectomy group (P less than or equal to 0.05). Conclusions: We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has more advantag es when speaking of postoperative pulmonary function tests and atelectasia.