Minilaparoscopic (needlescopic) cholecystectomy: a study of 1,011 cases

The safety and feasibility of minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been documented with a large patient sample. This study reports the results of 1,011 minilaparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in a single institution.

From November 1997 to May 2002, 1,023 consecutive patients underwent minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Patients with clinical evidence of common bile duct stones (1 patient) and combined surgery for other purposes (11 patients) were excluded. The operative indication, total operative time, conversion rate, hospital stay, morbidity and mortality of 1,011 patients were reviewed and statistically analyzed.

Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 1,009 of 1,011 patients (375 males and 636 female; mean age, 54.8 years; range 13-92 years). The total operative time was 68.8 +/- 31.9 min. The total hospital stay was 2.5 +/- 2 days. One patient (0.10%) underwent conversion to open cholecystectomy because of common hepatic duct laceration. One patient (0.10%) underwent conversion to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy for control of cystic artery bleeding. Ten patients (0.99%) experienced major complications including intraabdominal abscess (1 patient), bile leakage (5 patients), major bile duct injury (2 patients), bowel injury (1 patient), and postoperative hemorrhage (1 patient). Eleven patients (1.09%) had minor complications including wound infection, incisional herniation, postoperative ileus, and acute urine retention. One patient (0.10%) with bleeding tendency succumbed to postoperative hemorrhage.

Minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy is a technically demanding approach. Our results indicate that this procedure could be performed successfully and safely by experienced surgical teams.