Videolaparoscopic cholecystectomy. Report of the first Brazilian series.

The authors present the first Brazilian series of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Forty-one patients were operated on for gallstone disease between July and December 1990. Thirty-one operations were conducted by laparoscopy with no complications and good recovery of the patients. Two had to be submitted to laparotomy due to acute cholecystitis and a very difficult field for dissection. The authors concluded that the procedure is feasible, safe and has great advantages such as better cosmetic result, shorter hospital stay and home recovery time, lower postoperative pain and lower personal and social cost.