Ambulatory cholecystectomy without disability
W. P. Ledet Jr
Department of Surgery, West Calcasiu Cameron Hospital, Sulphur, La.
This is a presentation of 200 consecutive outpatient cholecystectomies
performed during a 4-year period in a small community hospital. This
technique is performed with minor modifications of the usual
cholecystectomy procedure so that it could easily be performed by general
surgeons throughout the United States. The procedure has resulted in a
large reduction in the short- and long-term morbidity associated with
cholecystectomy, and in savings of up to one fourth the cost of a routine
inpatient cholecystectomy. This procedure allows the general surgeon to
treat patients with cholecystectomies in the fashion to which the surgeon
is accustomed and still markedly reduce the hospital stay. The morbidity
from this procedure seems comparable with laser cholecystectomy. Ambulatory
cholecystectomy as described here does not require any special training or
equipment.
