Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: the State of the Art. A Report on 700 Consecutive Cases

Born in secret in 1987, developed in an atmosphere of skepticism and even hostility throughout 1988, the laparoscopic cholecystectomy triumphed in 1989-90 and caused a veritable revolution in the world of general surgery. The 700 consecutive cases that we report here reflect the spirit of these various periods. From prudently restrictive, our indications widened to include 90% of all patients with gallbladder lithiasis. Sclero-atrophic gallbladders constitute the greatest challenge for endoscopic maneuvers. This group of patients should be treated by the most experienced operators only. The figures for mortality (0.1%) and complications (3%) are very comparable and even better than those for traditional cholecystectomy. The quality of recovery is infinitely better; there is absence of pain, a short period of hospitalization, return to normal physical activity within 10 days, rapid return to work, and total preservation of the abdominal muscles for participation in sports activities. All these advantages are assets of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy which are not available to the 6% of patients for whom an intra-operative conversion to open surgery is necessary. These patients recover within the conditions of a traditional cholecystectomy which are far from being poor. The large multicenter studies, such as those carried out in France and Belgium recently involving 3,708 patients, arrive at identical conclusions. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is on its way to becoming the gold standard of treatment for gallbladder lithiasis. It is the first successful step towards surgical techniques of the 21st century which will be carried out inside the musculo-cutaneous envelope of the unopened human body.