Laparoscopic cholecystectomy during pregnancy in symptomatic patients.

BACKGROUND

The management of symptomatic biliary tract disease during pregnancy is controversial. Although most patients receive temporizing medical therapy, some authors have advocated a more aggressive surgical approach. We have extended this surgical approach to include laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Five women with pregnancies at 13 to 23 weeks' estimated gestational age underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis or acute cholecystitis between March and September 1991.

RESULTS

No complications occurred, and the postoperative courses of all patients were unremarkable. Four patients have been delivered of healthy babies, and the fifth patient is still pregnant at the time of this report.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be a safe treatment for selected patients with symptomatic biliary tract disease during pregnancy. Further study is warranted to determine its proper role in managing this difficult clinical problem.