[Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Among 68 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treatment of symptomatic gallstones, serious complications occurred in three cases. One patient developed a stricture of the hepatic duct which probably was caused by electrocautery. In one case uncontrollable bleeding from the hepatic artery resulted in enforced conversion to open operation and one patient had a subphrenic accumulation of bile which could be drained percutaneously. In order to reduce the risk of iatrogenic injury to the bile ducts operative choleangiography should be attempted routinely.