Laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus small incision cholecystectomy in symptomatic gallstones disease.

OBJECTIVE To compare the results and outcomes of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with the small incision cholecystectomy (SIC). STUDY DESIGN Observational study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from February 2008 to March 2009. METHODOLOGY Patients with symptomatic gallstones that were referred and enrolled in the study for LC or SIC. Operation, anaesthesia, analgesics and postoperative care were standardized. The patients were assessed for operation time, postoperative pain, nausea, vomiting, hospital stay, return to work time and complications in the postoperative period on day 1, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months, postoperatively. RESULTS Of 144 patients, 81 underwent LC and 63 underwent SIC. Both groups were matched for age, gender, BMI, clinical findings and ASA grading. The mean duration of operation was 74 and 62 minutes in the LC and SIC groups, respectively (p = 0.0059). Duration of hospital stay and return to regular activities were shorter after LC compared to SIC. Pain scores, nausea and vomiting were the same in both groups, although the frequency of intra-operative complications were greater in LC compared to SIC. CONCLUSION Outcome and complications of SIC were comparable with those of LC.