Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy: effect on pulmonary function tests.
OBJECTIVE
Operations often cause impairment in respiration due to pain. This study was designed to compare the changes in pulmonary function tests after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


METHODS
Two groups of 35 patients were randomly set up. Each patient had 3 pulmonary function tests performed and 2 postero-anterior grid chest roentgenograms taken. All of these data were evaluated by the same group of investigators.


RESULTS
After taking into consideration the difference between pulmonary function tests, values were not significant (P < or = 0.05). All pulmonary function test values decreased significantly on the 1st postoperative day (P < or = 0.05). When postero-anterior chest roentgenograms were compared no clinically evident atelectasis except 3 lineary was seen in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group, whereas 5 lineary, 7 focal, and 3 segmentary atelectasia were encountered in the open cholecystectomy group (P < or = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has more advantages when speaking of postoperative pulmonary function tests and atelectasia.
Coskun
I
I
Department of General Surgery, Trakya University Faculty of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey.
Hatipoglu
A R
AR
Topaloglu
A
A
Yoruk
Y
Y
Yalcinkaya
S
S
Caglar
T
T
D000328:Adult; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000209:etiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*