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Evidence summaries

Laparoscopic Versus Open Cholecystectomy for Patients with Symptomatic Cholecystolithiasis

There are no significant differences in mortality, complications and operative time between laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a shorter hospital stay and a quicker convalescence compared with the classical open cholecystectomy. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 38 studies with a total of 2338 subjects. There was no significant difference regarding mortality (risk difference 0,00, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.01). Meta-analysis of all trials suggests less overall complications in the laparoscopic group, but the high-quality trials show no significant difference ('allocation concealment' high-quality trials risk difference, -0.01, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.02). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients have a shorter hospital stay (WMD -3 days, 95% CI -3.9 to -2.3) and convalescence (WMD -22.5 days, 95% CI -36.9 to -8.1) compared to open cholecystectomy.

    References

    • Keus F, de Jong JA, Gooszen HG, van Laarhoven CJ. Laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2006 Oct 18;(4):CD006231. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords