Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: treatment of choice for cholelithiasis in children

World J Surg. 1993 Mar-Apr;17(2):263-6. doi: 10.1007/BF01658941.

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is rapidly replacing traditional cholecystectomy as the standard treatment for cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in adults. Over a period of 16 months, 14 children with a clinical diagnosis of cholelithiasis, ranging in age from 4 to 15 years (mean 12.2), were treated. All had symptoms of abdominal pain or vomiting; one had jaundice and recurrent cholecystitis. Five children (35%) had associated metabolic or hemolytic diseases. The 14 children were operated on using the laparoscopic cholecystectomy technique. No operation was converted to open cholecystectomy, but two patients required laparotomy: one because of suspected injury to the common duct, and the other because of nonvisualization of the gallbladder during laparoscopy. The mean post-operative hospital stay for the 11 children who underwent only laparoscopic cholecystectomy (one patient also had a simple mastectomy) was 50 hours (range 48-72 hours). All children resumed their normal activities almost immediately after discharge from hospital. No long-term biliary or other complications were seen in any patient throughout an average follow-up period of 6.2 months (range 3-16 months). The benefits of this operation in children are obvious: It is safe, effective, and well tolerated.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic* / methods
  • Cholelithiasis / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male