Endoscopic laser cholecystectomy: initial report.

With the recent advent of endoscopic laser cholecystectomy, gallbladder removal has been transformed into a minimally invasive operative procedure. To date, we have performed this technique in 12 patients (nine women and three men, aged 24 to 66 years). Early in our experience, one procedure was converted from the endoscopic technique to a standard open cholecystectomy after the gallbladder was accidentally punctured by the grasping forceps. The remaining 11 cases were completed endoscopically. Eight days postoperatively, one patient underwent reexploration because of bile leakage secondary to a fallen cystic duct (which was thickened from chronic inflammation). Compared with traditional methods, the endoscopic technique resulted in decreased morbidity and discomfort, a shorter hospital stay, minimal scarring, and a faster return to work.