[The status of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Austria. AMIC--Study Group for Minimally Invasive Surgery]

The complete 1992 register of minimal invasive operations at all surgical departments in Austria has been compiled for the third year running, representing questionnaires returned from 107 departments reporting a total of 11,591 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC). Evaluation of the data from the 81 departments with a least 2 years' experience showed an increase of 56.60% in the number of LCs and an overall increase in cholecystectomies of 18.50% in comparison with 1991. Sonography and/or intravenous cholangiography remain the standard procedures for the pre-operative diagnosis of bile-duct concrements, undertaken in 98.05% and 71.70%, respectively, of all cases in 1992. Intra-operative cholangiography has been implemented with increasing frequency (17.56% of all cases in 1992), especially in those departments with longer experience on LC. The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 6.09%, and the incidence of secondary cholecystectomy was 1.26%. The mortality rate was 0.11%. Our register now contains the data on 19,872 LCs. Our evaluation of the multicentric data aims at a complete documentation of the frequency of this surgical procedure and the incidence of complications in Austria with a view to establishing guidelines for the indications for LC and planning of this operation, as well as following up current trends in the regional implementation of LC in Austria.