[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our experience]

The many advantages and extreme versatility made laparoscopic cholecystectomy (L.C.) the gold standard for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The aim of this research is a retrospective analysis of personal experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a peripheral hospital compared with the literature on the subject.

Since June 1982, a total of 989 L.C. have been performed. The patients were: 691 (68.6%) women and 298 (29.4%) men with a mean age of 56 years (range 17-84). The indications were: 791 symptomatic cholelithiasis, 142 chronic cholecystitis, 45 empyema-hydrops and 11 adenomyomatosis.

No postoperative death have been observed and the conversion rate was of 24 cases (2.3%). The main complications were 3 cases of injury of the biliary tract and 2 cases of postoperative bleeding (1 from cystic artery and 1 from the umbilical wound). Minor complications observed were 12 cases (1.2%) of infections of the umbilical wound and 3 cases of umbilical hernia (0.3%). The elevation of stasis index was observed in 3 cases which solved spontaneously. The length of stay was 2 days in 957 cases (97%), 8 days in 24 cases and 4-5 days in 8 (0.7%).

No major trochar's lesions occurred, contrary to the percentages quoted in the literature (0.02%-0.9%). The selective use of the open technique and of the multiuse conic section trocar in the "closed" technique is suggested. The 3 cases of bile duct lesions did not occur during the training period, contrary to what quoted in the literature. In personal opinion, a careful surgical technique with a good Calot's triangle preparation, is necessary to prevent these inconveniences. Parietal complications (umbilical wound infections and laparocele) even if lesser than in the laparotomy technique, can be reduced by using the endobag and suturing the abdominal fascia of the 10 mm trocars. Moreover, the use of a systematic subhepatic drainage during the first 24 postoperative hours is suggested, since it can be useful to reveal possible bleeding.