[Analysis of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the basis of our thirteen-years experience].

Unlabelled: The objective of study is to present and discuss complications observed in our patients after laparoscopic cholecystectomy throughout nine years of using this technique.

Material And Methods: Between 1992 and 2003, 3146 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed in our clinic for symptomatic or complicated cholecystolithiasis. The number of laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) increases constantly compared to open cholecystectomies (OC). At the beginning the ratio of LC to OC was 1:20, then 1:1, for a short time, and it is 10:1 presently. Approximately 280 LC and merely 30 OC are carried out in our clinic annually.

Results: The most common complications of LC in our material were suppuration of a infraumbilical wound (23) and umbilica hernia (14). A common bile duct injury was observed in nine cases and intraoperative haemorrhage in 11 patients. Infrahepatic abscess (2), bile peritonitis (2), digestive tract injury (1) and abdominal wall haemorrhage (1) appeared rarely. Conversion into an open technique had to be done in 91 cases (2.89%) but only in 34 cases due to intraoperative complications. No deaths connected with LC were observed.

Conclusions: The number of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not higher than after open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a save operative technique in the hands of an experienced surgeon.