title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in obese and nonobese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From November 1997 to November 1998, 145 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) have been attempted at the District General Hospital of Corfu.
  
  
  METHODS
  23 (15.8%) were obese (Group I, BMI >30) and 122 (84.2%) were nonobese patients (Group II, BMI < or =30). One-fifth of these patients suffered from acute cholecystitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative time averaged 95 minutes in Group I and 78 minutes in Group II. There were no deaths. There were no significant differences between the obese and nonobese groups in conversion to open procedure (Group I: 0%, Group II: 2.4%), intraoperative and postoperative complications (Group I: 4.3%, Group II: 4.0%), operating time, and length of postoperative hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LC was a safe and effective treatment for obese patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, District General Hospital of Corfu, Greece. gats@ker.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gatsoulis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koulas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiparos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tzafestas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pangratis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pandis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mavrakis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome