title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: use and preparation for Operation Desert Shield.
abstract: While stationed at Winn army hospital, Fort Stewart, Georgia as backfill surgeons during the initial stages of Operation Desert Shield, we performed eight laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) over a 2 1/2 week period. Our patients included four active duty soldiers, three dependents, and one retiree. There were no complications. The average hospital stay was 2 days, and the average time to return to duty was 10 days for LC compared to 5 and 30 days, respectively, with standard cholecystectomy (SC). Performing LC whenever possible can return soldiers back to duty in one-third the time and greatly reduce health care costs by reducing the hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mooney
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Modesto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000473:pathology; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D006801:Humans; D008877:Middle East; D008889:Military Personnel; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare; D014937:Work