[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

Two hundred and fifty consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstones underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy over a ten month period. Out of 250 cases, 2 (0.8%) were converted to open cholecystectomy. One was due to bleeding, and the other being due to severe adhesion. The remaining 248 cases resulted in complete success without any complications or postoperative readmission. In this modality of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, there is an apparent learning experience which can be covered only by adequate training and experience. From an ethical point of view, however, training should not be undertaken at the expense of patients. With less experienced operators, the threshold of indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be set high in order to secure the safety of the patients as well as the successful completion of the procedures.