Improved outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ultrasonic dissection: a randomized multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: In conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, dissection with electrocautery starts at the triangle of Calot. In a randomized single-center trial, the fundus-first method (dome down) using ultrasonic dissection was faster, involved less pain or nausea, and had a shorter postoperative sick leave. This may relate to the fundus-first method or to the ultrasonic dissection.

METHODS: In a multicenter trial, 243 elective patients were randomized to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy using electrocautery (n = 85) or the fundus-first method using either electrocautery (n = 81) or ultrasonic dissection (n = 77).

RESULTS: The fundus-first method had a shorter operating time with ultrasonic dissection (58 min) than with electrocautery (74 min; p = 0.002). The fundus-first method using ultrasonic dissection compared with electrocautery or the conventional method produced less blood loss (12 vs. 53 or 36 ml; p < 0.001) and fewer gallbladder perforations (26% vs. 46% or 49%; p = 0.005). Also, the pain and nausea scores at 4 and 6 h were lower, and the sick leave was shorter (6.1 vs. 9.4 and 9 days, respectively; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: The fundus-first method using ultrasonic dissection is associated with less blood loss, fewer gallbladder perforations, less pain and nausea, and shorter sick leave than the conventional and fundus-first method using electrocautery. The difference seems related to the use of ultrasonic dissection.