ABSTRACT
From April 1989 to February 1991; the author performed endoscopic laser cholecystectomy in 300 patients (236 women and 64 men; who ranged from 19 to 86 years of age). The operation was undertaken with the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in 275 cases; the argon laser in 13 cases; the potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser in 1 case; and the holmium:YAG laser in 11 cases. The average operative time was 34 minutes. Four endoscopic procedures (1.3) were converted to open cholecystectomies because of poor visualization of the operative field. Reoperation was necessary for bile leakage in 1 case and for haemorrhage in another case; both patients recovered satisfactorily. Postoperative discomfort was controlled with an average of 235 mg of demerol. Twenty-six patients were discharged from the hospital on the day of surgery; and 248 remained in the hospital only overnight; the other patients were treated early in the series and had slightly longer hospitalization times. Unrestricted activity was resumed within 3 to 8 days