[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Switzerland. Critical retrospective evaluation of the first 3,722 cases. Swiss Professional Society of Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic Surgery].

In a national prospective multicenter study 3722 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) performed by 179 surgeons in 50 Swiss institutions were analysed with special regard to technique and complications. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was necessary in 259 patients (7.0%), either expectively without intraoperative complications (4.5%) or due to intraoperative complications (2.5%). Three patients (0.08%) died within 30 days after operation and a total of 39 patients (1.0%) had to be reoperated. 31 (0.8%) bile duct injuries were registered. Common bile duct (CBD) stones were treated mainly by ERCP. In 8 cases laparoscopic removal of common bile duct stones was attempted and performed successfully in 6 patients. Postoperatively patients were discharged home after a mean of 4.4 days and returned to work after 14.0 days (range: 2-28). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy became the gold standard to remove the gallbladder, but further development is needed, to establish laparoscopic treatment of biliary tract stones in the near future.