[Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy became the procedure of choice for symptomatic stone disease of the gallbladder. Complications associated with this new method are discussed and compared with those of open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopy alone shows a morbidity of 0.2-3.7 percent and mortality of 0.1 percent. The complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are divided in early--lesion of the bile ducts, hemorrhage or coagulation injuries--and late complications, as formation of abscess, pulmonary embolism, herniation at the site of trocar insertion or stricture of the common bile duct. Compared with open cholecystectomy, the laparoscopic procedure is safe too in the treatment of symptomatic stone disease of the gallbladder.