title: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: technical compromise between French and American approach. Presentation of an original technique.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a well standardized technique. There are two main approaches, proposed by French and American Schools. They have similar operative times, but different arrangements for site ports insertions and for patients and operators' position at operative bed. Although we can foresee new scenarios for the next future (robotics, SILS, NOTES, minilaparoscopy), it seemed interesting to describe a simple variation to LC introduced in the last years in our experience relative to the positioning of operators and patient during standard American technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective analysis of 140 patients operated on for LC in the last two years (70 with French technique and 70 with "American modified" technique) we compared the following parameters: laparotomic conversion, duration of operation, hospital stay, morbidity and mortality rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Conversion to laparotomy, length of operative time and hospital stay were similar. Morbidity rates were slightly different, but it did not show statistically significant differences between the two groups. Mortality was nil.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our variant to LC seems to be almost a compromise between the two main techniques. Our operators' arrangement gave a greater comfort for surgeons during LC and our results were similar to those reported with adoption of French and American approaches. These considerations led us to judge our variation safe and reliable.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carlomagno
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santangelo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romagnuolo
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antropoli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Tessa
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult