LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY - INITIAL NEW-ZEALAND EXPERIENCE

In a prospective study, 75 (97.4%) of 77 consecutive patients presenting to one surgeon for acute or elective chloecystectomy were suitable for the laparoscopic technique. The study group was 70.6% female with an average age of 46.2 years. One patient (1.3%) required conversion to an open operation for a gangrenous gallbladder. The remainder were completed in a mean of 99.7 minutes, with patients staying a mean 1.5 nights postoperatively and achieving a pain score of zero at a mean 4.4 days. There was no morbidity or mortality and most returned to work at one week. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has apparent advantages over the traditional open technique and is a safe and effective treatment for almost all patients with gallbladder disease when performed by an experienced and trained surgeon.