This study aims to evaluate the results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1994 performed by a large number of surgeons. The study was conducted prospectively and anonymously among the members of the SFCERO. All the patients who underwent cholecystectomy started laparoscopicaly during 1994 were included.
Results: 4.624 cholecystectomies were performed by 150 surgeons. There were 3310 females (42.5 +/- 19.8 years old) and 1314 males (56.3 +/- 16.1 years old). Conversion rate was 6.9%: 4261 purely laparoscopic operations (Group I) and 320 conversions (Group II). Morbidity was 5% (N = 230): 4.7% in Group I (N = 203) and 8.4% in Group II (N = 27). Mortality was 0.2% (N = 9): 4 intra-abdominal complications (3 cases of peritonitis and 1 biliary reoperation), 2 cases of cardiac failure and 1 cerebrovascular accident. The cause of the death was not reported for 2 patients. These results show that the morbidity and mortality rate have not dramatically changed since the beginning of the technique, whereas the frequency of CBD injuries has decreased. In contrast, the conversion rate has slightly increased.