[Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were evaluated in the group of 1.284 patients operated on from June 1991 to December 1996. Serious complications were observed in 38 (2.9%) patients. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was required in 50 patients, including 4 patients with common bile duct injury, 3 patients with bleeding from the gall bladder bed, 2 with cholecysto-duodenal fistula and 6 with intraperitoneal adhesions. In 35 patients the conversion was performed due to inflammatory changes in the Calot triangle. The authors did not observe any serious vascular injury as well as lethal complications. They conclude, that the correct indications to surgery and adequate surgical technique are the most important factors preventing the complications.