Current status of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Korea was evaluated by a retrospective nation-wide mail survey of 567 hospitals with over 20-bed capacity. Among the 131(23.1%) respondent hospitals, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed at
43(32.8%) hospitals and 53hospitals anticipated beginning the procedure in the near future. Sixty surgeons performed a total of 4,490 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, which was 63.4% of the total cholecystecomy cases since the beginning of the
procedure.
Conversion to open cholecystectomy was necessary in 198 patients(4.4%), either because of severe inflammation, adhesion, bleeding or bile duct injury. Total postoperative complication rate was 9.7%(n=427) with 23 cases(0.51%) of bile duct injury
and
there were 4 operative deaths(0.09%). The mean operation time was 94 minutes and the mean postoperative hospital stay was between 3 and 4 days. The conversion rate and the complication rate higher and the operation time and the hospital stay were
longer
at hospitals that had performed fewer cases. Most of the surgeons perfore operative cholangiography in selected cases, and prefer two-hand technique rather than one-hand and electrocautery rather than laser. We concluded that laparoscopic
cholecystectomy has been being well established within such a short period and has been performed effectively and safely in Korea. Early establishment of training program and privileging process is needed for the future.
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