Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patient can expect a hospital stay of < 2 days and a return to work within 2 weeks. The associated operative mortality rate is low at < 0.2 per cent. The increased incidence of bile duct injury with the laparoscopic technique compared with open cholecystectomy is a cause for concern but such injuries should decrease with proper training in laparoscopic surgery. The use of operative cholangiography (whether routine, selective or never) is controversial but there is no evidence that routine cholangiography will prevent major bile duct injury.
Surgical Review Office, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
I M
IM
Macintyre
R G
RG
Wilson
D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000293:injuries; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay