[Specific complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: 610 cases]

The authors report their experience of 610 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (VLC) and focus attention on the specific complications of this operation, in other words those not linked to the access phase (pneumoperitoneum and introduction of the trocars). The total percentage of complications reported was 1.3%. The most frequent complication was hemorrhage (0.6%), a finding which is in line with international literature. It is emphasised that complications almost always occur postoperatively, sometimes after the early discharge of patients and for this reason they may be more severe. The importance of an accurate dissection of the cholecystic ileum is underlined as being the only real guarantee against lesions to the common bile duct. In overall terms, however, after appropriate training and under the guidance of an expert surgeon, VLC may be considered as the new "gold standard" for treatment of cholelithiasis.