Abdominal wall retraction during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has represented a potentially more morbid procedure than open cholecystectomy. Some of this morbidity has been due to complications associated with pneumoperitoneum. We have developed a technique that employs abdominal wall retraction during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and allows access to the right upper part of the abdomen without maintenance of pneumoperitoneum. Among 151 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using abdominal wall retraction there were no recognized adverse effects. Abdominal wall retraction enables the surgeon to minimize the risk of serious complications associated with pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.