Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy v/s Open Cholecystectomy: A comparative study at LLRM Medical College & Hospital, Meerut

Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones. Surgical options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy. A traditional open cholecystectomy is a major abdominal surgery in which the surgeon removes the gallbladder through a 8–10 cm incision. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has now replaced open cholecystectomy as the first-choice of treatment for gallstones unless there are contraindications to the laparoscopic approach. The operation usually requires general anaesthesia and is subject to the same risks and complications as open cholecystectomy. However, patients have little pain after the operation, and hospital stays (1–2 days) and recovery (1–2 weeks) are usually shorter than after open cholecystectomy. So, the purpose of the study is the usefulness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in present set up of LLRM Medical College & Hospital, Meerut. Operations were performed by consultant surgeons or senior residents under their direct supervision, all having sufficient skills and experience in both types of procedures. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not differ much from open cholecystectomy regarding mortality, major complications and bile duct injuries. However, laparoscopic cholecystectomy leads to shorter incisional wounds; lesser incidence of post operative wound infections and seems to be associated with a shorter hospital stay and hence faster return to work. These seems the reasons for laparoscopic cholecystectomy being the preferred method of choice above open cholecystectomy