[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Initial experiences]

Between February 1991 and July 1991, 74 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. The number of all cholecystectomies during this period was 168. Two surgeons performed the operations. Stone in the common bile duct, old age, acute cholecystitis, severe obesity and heart rhythm disorders were regarded as contraindications. The duration of the operation was 45-210 min. (mean 127 min). The intervention was diverted to open cholecystectomy in 2 instances (2.7%). Early postoperative complications were observed in 2 cases (2.7%): biliary discharge and bleeding. Reoperation was necessary in one patient (1.3%) because of bleeding. There was no operative mortality. The mean duration of hospitalization was 5.6 days, and the mean postoperative period was 2.7 days. It is considered that, laporoscopic cholecystectomy can be carried out only by specialists in both bile surgery and laparoscopic techniques, provided that all the personal and technical conditions necessary for traditional cholecystectomies are at hand. Both medically and economically, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy results attain or even exceed those of the traditional open technique.