[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children].

Objective: Retrospective evaluation of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children. The authors deal with the asset of the method in child surgery and emphasize the differences of treatment of cholelithiasis in children by a laparoscopic approach.

Method: During 1994 to 1998 the authors made 54 laparoscopic cholecystectomies in children 5 to 18 years old (mean age 14.0 years). The indication for surgery was in 48 patients cholecystolithiasis and in six instances confirmed chronic cholecystitis without concrements. Four times cholecystolithiasis associated with congenital haemorrhagic disease was found. The majority of patients, i.e. 51 (94.4%), was operated during the quiescent stage of the disease.

Results: In the group of operated children no serious peroperative and postoperative complications were recorded. Twice concrements from the bile duct were removed by papillosphincterotomy in cholecystocholedocholithiasis after previous laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Conclusion: In child surgery laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a less frequent operation than in adults. However, it is also in children an effective and safe method with all advantages of mini-invasive operations.