Pulmonary function and complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impairment of pulmonary function and complications after laparoscopic compared with open cholecystectomy through an upper midline incision. Design: Prospective randomised trial. Setting: Teaching hospital, Spain. Subjects: 40 patients, 20 in each group. Interventions: Clinical examination, spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, and chest radiographs before and after operation. Results: 48 hours postoperatively FVC and FEV had decreased to 56.7% and 53%, respectively, in the patients who had had open cholecystectomy, compared with 85.3% and 84.8% in the laparoscopic group (p < 0.0001). The mean (SD) postoperative percentage reductions in both Pa0₂ (86.1 (11.1) compared with 98.3 (11.3)) and Sat0₂ (98.6 (1.3) compared with 100 (1.5)) were also greater in the open group (p < 0.005 in both cases). Conclusions: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy causes less impairment of lung function than cholecystectomy through an upper midline incision. Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.