Complications in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy: a prospective comparative trial

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 250) was compared with the open procedure (n = 250) in a prospective comparative study focusing on complications. Severity grade was classified according to the Toronto system. The frequency of severity grade 1 complications was equal after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (5.6%), but major complications (grade 2 and higher) were significantly more frequent in the open group (10.4 versus 3.6%). The only postoperative death occurred after open cholecystectomy. The conventional advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were also verified: The need for postoperative analgesics was significantly reduced from 7 (range, 4-16) standard opiate doses in the open group to 3 (range, 0-7) in the laparoscopic group. Hospital stay was reduced from 6 (range, 4-31) days after open surgery to 2 (range, 1-7) days after laparoscopic surgery and sick leave from 28 (range, 18-48) to 10 (range, 2-21) days, respectively. The overall complication rate was significantly higher in the open group (16 versus 9%, p < 0.01). In our hands, laparoscopic cholecystectomy carries a lower risk of serious complications than the open procedure.