title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the Austrian experience.
abstract: The number of surgical units performing laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LCH) increased from 24 hospitals (20%) in 1990 to 85 hospitals (70%) in 1991, performing 7351 LCHs. Of those, for 97% the outcome was uneventful, and the conversion rate was 2.1%. 0.8% required secondary laparotomy. Common bile duct damage occurred in 0.5% and overall mortality in 0.1% of cases (4 patients). Thanks to the cooperation of its surgeons, Austria is the only country to present actual numbers concerning acceptance and penetration of LCH.
authors.affiliation: II. Chirurgische Abteilung des Allgemeinen öffentlichen Krankenhauses der Stadt Linz, Austria.
authors.forename: W U
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Wayand
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gitter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woisetschläger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome