Peri-operative pulmonary function, pain and stress response after cholecystectomy performed via laparotomy or laparoscopy: Comparison between laparoscopy and laparotomy

Pulmonary function, pain and endocrine-metabolic response to surgical stress were compared in 50 patients with elective cholelithiasis who were randomly treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (group 1 = 29 patients) and by open cholecystectomy (OC) (group 2 = 21 patients). Data were stored in Dbse III and analysed using SPSS software. We compared the two groups using the unpaired t-test and by two-tailed chi-square test. No respiratory dysfunction was present after LC whilst in the OC group, pulmonary impairment lasted 5–7 days post-operatively. Pain evaluation by visual analogue scale confirmed that LC is less invasive and less harmful than OC. During surgery, hormonal response did not significantly differ in either group. In the post-operative period, an increase in prolactin and cortisol levels resulted in the OC group, which suggested stress. The findings of this study suggest that LC has more advantages than OC in the elective treatment of gallstones.