Prospective comparison of laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy in a community hospital

Despite reports questioning its relative safety, laparoscopic cholecystectomy has gained rapid acceptance on the surgical scene in the past few years due to its perceived, but unproven advantages related to patient recovery and health care costs. This article describes a study conducted at the Charleston Area Medical Center in order to prospectively evaluate the comparative outcomes and expenses for 17 patients undergoing open cholecystectomies by a single surgeon using techniques of vigorous perioperative care, as well as 30 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies by a single experienced laparoscopist. Results indicated that although patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy had a slightly shorter average length of hospitalization and used fewer postoperative analgesics, the average recovery time and hospital costs for the two procedures were similar.