title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus open cholecystectomy in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is well accepted as the standard cholecystectomy only in adult patients. However, the advantages of LC over open cholecystectomy have never been proved in pediatric patients because the number of pediatric cholecystectomies is limited as well as the faster ability of pediatric patients to resume their normal activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 42 pediatric cholecystectomies (laparoscopic cholecystectomy (n = 8) (LCs), open cholecystectomy alone (n = 8) (OCs) and open cholecystectomy concomitant with splenectomy (n = 26)(OCs + S)) done in Siriraj University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between 1992 and 2000 was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical comparison revealed that LC was superior to OC in regard to diet resumption. LCs resumed soft diet on 1.38 days, whereas OCs and OCs + S could resume soft diet on 3.38 and 3.35 days respectively. The average length of hospitalization following LCs was significantly shorter than OCs' and OCs + S' ones (3.00 vs 8.38 and 4.85 days respectively). There was no morbidity and mortality in LCs, whereas two OCs and three OCs + S had complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this preliminary study, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a preferred method of cholecystectomy in children because it has a shorter post-operative interval of diet resumption and shortens hospitalization with minimal morbidity. However, this study has a limited number of patients and further study is still required to conclude the benefits of LC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Ravit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruangtrakool
authors.forename: Akkrapol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mungnirandr
authors.forename: Mongkol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laohapensang
authors.forename: Chana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sathornkich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome