[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy--treatment outcome of 500 patients]

500 patients with symptomatic biliary stones disease have been treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCh). Contraindications, such as: acute inflammation, earlier laparotomies, common duct stones or obesity were considered as relatives. In cases with duct stones, ERCP with sphincterotomy and evacuation of duct stones was performed before LCh. Small percentage of LCh failures (2.6%) and of postoperative morbidity (3.4%) by undoubted advantages as: lack of postoperative paresis of digestive tract, reduced inability time for professional activity and low risk of postoperative abdominal hernia make this procedure attractive for patients and surgeons.