title: Complications in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy: a prospective comparative trial.
abstract: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 250) was compared with the open procedure (n = 250) in a prospective comparative study focusing on complications. Severity grade was classified according to the Toronto system. The frequency of severity grade 1 complications was equal after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (5.6%), but major complications (grade 2 and higher) were significantly more frequent in the open group (10.4 versus 3.6%). The only postoperative death occurred after open cholecystectomy. The conventional advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were also verified: The need for postoperative analgesics was significantly reduced from 7 (range, 4-16) standard opiate doses in the open group to 3 (range, 0-7) in the laparoscopic group. Hospital stay was reduced from 6 (range, 4-31) days after open surgery to 2 (range, 1-7) days after laparoscopic surgery and sick leave from 28 (range, 18-48) to 10 (range, 2-21) days, respectively. The overall complication rate was significantly higher in the open group (16 versus 9%, p < 0.01). In our hands, laparoscopic cholecystectomy carries a lower risk of serious complications than the open procedure.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, Ullevaal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buanes
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mjåland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology