[Indications for surgical therapy of gallstones]

4675 patients which underwent a cholecystectomy because of gallstone disease were included in a prospective multi-institutional study from 01/09/1994 to 31/08/1995 at 29 east-german hospitals. 3,207 (68.6%) patients had done a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCE). 1,468 (31.4%) patients received a primary open cholecystectomy (KCE). A conversion rate of 7.7% (n = 247) was seen. In 32.8% of LCE and in 39.5% of KCE diagnostic procedures of the common bile duct were not performed at all. The rate of open revision of the common bile duct was 4.5% (n = 211). The highest postoperative morbidity and operative mortality were found in KCE with revision of the common bile dutct.