Mini-lap cholecystectomy.

With the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the surgical community witnessed a revolution in basic ideology. Gone are the days when surgeons spoke of wounds healing "from side to side, and not top to bottom." The surgical community has become aware of the concept of minimally invasive surgery. Despite this recent advance, surgeons have long realized that the surgical wound does contribute to morbidity and mortality. The mini-lap cholecystectomy, described as early as 1982, is an indication that surgeons are making an attempt to reduce this morbidity. Mini-lap cholecystectomy is now being suggested as an alternative to laparoscopic cholecystectomy--a technique that boasts many of the same benefits without the problems inherent in laparoscopic surgery. The author has reviewed the literature for mini-lap cholecystectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and conventional cholecystectomy. Using this "historical" database, he then compares the three techniques to determine whether mini-lap cholecystectomy is a viable alternative.