Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Versus Open Cholecyst ectomy in Children
RAVIT RUANGTRAKOOL, M.D.*, MONGKOL LAOHAPENSANG, M.D.*, AKKRAPOL MUNGNIRANDR, M.D.*, CHANA SATHORNKICH, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok I 0700, Thailand.
Materials and Methods : Retrospective study of 42 pediatric cholecystectomies (laparo scopic cholecystectomy (n = 8) (LCs), open cholecystectomy alone (n = 8) (OCs) and open cholecyst ectomy concomitant with splenectomy (n = 26)(0Cs + S)) done in Siriraj University Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand between 1992 and 2000 was conducted.
Results : Statistical comparison revealed that LC was superior to OC in regard to diet resumption. LCs resumed soft diet on 1.38 days, whereas OCs and OCs + S could resume soft diet on 3.38 and 3.35 days respectively. The average length of hospitalization following LCs was signifi cantly shorter than OCs' and OCs + S' ones (3.00 vs 8.38 and 4.85 days respectively). There was no morbidity and mortality in LCs, whereas two OCs and three OCs + S had complications.
Conclusion : In this preliminary study, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a preferred method of cholecystectomy in children because it has a shorter post-operative interval of diet resumption and shortens hospitalization with minimal morbidity. However, this study has a limited number of patients and further study is still required to conclude the benefits of LC.
Keywords : Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic, Cholelithiasis, Gall Bladder, Child, Infant, Adoles cence, Human, Retrospective Studies, Length of Stay, Treatment Outcome
