Evolution of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the regional hospitals of Catalonia.

OBJECTIVE

to assess the safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the hands of surgeons with different amounts of experience in laparoscopic surgery at 15 regional hospitals, and to analyze the evolution of the current performance in comparison with results published in 1993.

METHODS

prospective study of 1168 laparoscopic cholecystectomies done in 1996 in 15 regional hospitals in Catalonia.

RESULTS

in 887 cases (76%) the indication was uncomplicated cholelithiasis. Preoperative cholangiography was done selectively in 12 of the 15 hospitals. Preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was positive in only 50 cases (57.4%), with 9 complications (10.3%). In 87 patients (7.4%) conversions to open surgery occurred. Postoperative complications (6. 3%), bile duct injury (0.4%), reintervention (0.4%) and postoperative stay (2.8 days) decreased in comparison with the year 1993.

CONCLUSIONS

the current results suggest an overall improvement in comparison with the 1993 findings, since the rate of complications and length of stay decreased. However, the increasing number of conversions was notable; this may be due to the increasing complexity of the indications and the rise in the number of surgeons still on the learning curve. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is, in our setting and for many surgeons, a safe and effective procedure that yields results similar to those in other multicenter studies.