Comparative study of conventional open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis

ABSTRACT

To compare the results of conventional open with laparoscopic cholecystectomy regarding their operative time and postoperative parameters. This is a comparative study of 400 patients of cholelithiasis operated for either open or Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during five years from January 2004 to December 2008. The cases were compared for operative time and various postoperative parameters in order to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. The patients were divided into two groups; group OC for open and group LC for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, each comprising of 200 cases. The operative time was longer in OC than LC patients with mean operative time of 54.16 +/- 11.94 minutes in OC and 46.89 +/- 14.83 minutes in LC group [P<0.001]. The overall frequency of postoperative complications was relatively high in OC group 50.5% as compared to LC [37%] including all minor and major problems with combined morbidity of 43.75% [P<0.001]. The mean hospital stay was shorter in LC group as compared to OC group i.e. 3.02 +/- 1.75 [range 1-5] days versus 5.56 +/- 9.8 [range 4-10] days respectively. Return to normal work was also significantly shorter in LC group i.e. 18.06 +/- 5.16days [range 1-4 weeks] as compared to 31.61 +/- 7.6 days [range 3-6 weeks] in OC group with p value <0.001. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is superior to open cholecystectomy due to short operative time, early mobilization and fast recovery, less postoperative pain and complications, short hospital stay and early return to work