Background and aims: minilaparotomy (MC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) are commonly applied surgical techniques in the management of symptomatic gallstone disease. Both techniques are used in day surgery patients, but to our knowledge MC and LC have not been compared in randomised trials as day surgery procedures.
Material and methods: in this randomised parallel group clinical trial we compared the suc-cess rate of day surgery of MC with that of LC in 60 consecutive patients with non-complicated symptomatic gallstones presented for elective surgery at the Kuusankoski District Hospital (n = 38) and the Kuopio University Hospital (n = 22). Twenty nine patients underwent MC and 31 LC. The patients' outcome was recorded up to four weeks after the operation.
Results: the success rate as a day surgery for MC was 66% (19/29) and that for LC 55% (17/31) with no difference between the two groups. Chronic cholecystitis, postoperative nausea and vomiting were significant variables associated with failure in day surgery. There was no difference between the two groups in operation time, perioperative bleeding, conversion to conventional open cholecystectomy (one with MC and three with LC), length of hospital stay or sick leave. Three patients developed superficial infection (two with MC and one with LC). One patient with conversion in the LC-group developed a common bile duct stricture and was readmitted at the 10th postoperative day.
Discussion: both MC and LC are feasible surgical techniques for day surgery. However, appropriate prevention and prompt management of established postoperative nausea and vomit-ing and careful patient selection are important aspects for success of short-stay approach. If there is a sign of chronic cholecystitis preoperatively, it might be considered as a contraindication for day surgery.