[Conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is nowadays the method of choice in treatment of symptomatic cholecystolithiasis, despite the fact that some operations cannot be completed laparoscopically and are converted. In a group of 431 patients operated during the last two years the authors evaluate the causes and predispositions of conversion which was performed in 7.4%. A significantly higher risk was found in subjects above 65 years of age, in those with ultrasonographic signs of thickening of the gallbladder wall and patients with acute cholecystitis. The risk of conversion is not significantly influenced by the patient's sex, obesity, the condition after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography, pancreatitis and a previous abdominal operation.