ABSTRACT
As the number of surgeons performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC), a rigorous evaluation of the safety of LC is waranted. It is essential to determine the extent of the difference in morbidity and mortality when compared with open cholecystectomy(OC). To compare the complications occurring in the patients undergoing L.C as compared to those undergoing open cholecystectomy. In a study conducted over a period of 8 years, 400 patients who underwent LC were compared to 400 patients who had undergone OC. The two groups were compared with respect to complication (severity grade 1-4), hospital stay and time required to return to work. (using the student ‘t’ test). The overall complication rate in both the groups was 4.8%. In LC group, the rate of grade 1, grade 2a and grade 2b complications were 2.3%, 0.3% and 2.3% respectively and in OC group it was 4%, 0% and 0.8% respectively. It means that grade 1 complications were 1.89 times higher in open cholecystectomy group as compared to LC group and grade 2b complications are 3.04 times higher in LC group as compared to OC group, though the variations are insignificant statistically. There was 0% mortality in both the groups. Postoperative hospital stay and time taken to return to work were less with LC group. Laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy were found to be comparable procedures in terms of complication for the treatment of gall stone disease and LC has not been associated with any increase in untoward events.