[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy--a never-ending success story?].

Today, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most commonly used surgical laparoscopic intervention. The surgeon must familiarize himself with the patient's biliary anatomy using appropriate imaging techniques. Prior to the intervention, an esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy is performed to exclude a florid ulcer. The most serious complication is an unrecognized injury to the common bile or hepatic duct. Intra-operative bleeds can usually be managed endoscopically. If the pathologist diagnoses a gallbladder carcinoma the patient must undergo appropriate staging and a conventional revision procedure (removal of any metastases that might be present and resection of the gallbladder bed).