[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

The author presents a new surgical procedure-laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Comparing the time interval from introduction to widespread adaption of other new operations this century, such as vagotomy and open cardiac procedures, it took remarkably little time for the surgical community to accept laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To perform endoscopic surgery, surgeons had to improve eye-hand coordination, adapt to a new tactile sensation and lack of depth perception. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy is "here to stay". The author reports preintervention program as well as the procedure and its technique with necessary instruments. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a recently developed alternative to open cholecystectomy that is rapidly gaining popularity because patients have experienced reduced stay in hospital, decreased wound pain and early return to normal activity.