Long-term follow-up after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A five-year follow-up was performed in 93 of 94 patients who successfully underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1985 and 1987. The results were compared to those in 130 of 136 patients of a non-randomized control group who had undergone open cholecystectomy during the same period. Patients characteristics and gallbladder findings were comparable in the two groups. Postoperative complications were infrequent and not significantly different in the two groups, whereas the mean hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group. During follow-up, one patient in the laparoscopically treated group had a common bile duct stone which was treated surgically since he refused to undergo ERCP; this patient died of postoperative complications. Various abdominal complaints were reported in 27% and 25% of the patients undergoing laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, respectively; in most cases no organic causes were found. Scar problems were less frequently reported in the laparoscopically treated group (2% versus 12%). It is concluded that the long-term results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are as good as those of open cholecystectomy, however, the hospital stay is significantly shorter and the long-term cosmetic results are considerably better in laparoscopically treated patients.