From March 1992 to September 1994, 281 patients were submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. 27 patients were admitted with diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and in 17 patients common duct stones were discovered and managed by ERCP before laparoscopic procedure. Surgical procedure was the standard one described by Cox. The mean duration of the operation was 60 minutes and was significantly related to the surgeon's experience; the incedence of conversion to open procedure was 5.7%. There was no postoperative mortality; the total morbility rate was 2.8%, with 3 major complications, and 5 minor complications.