Minilaparoscopic Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed operations in general surgery and is considered the standard of care for cholecystectomy for benign biliary disease. The laparoscopic approach to cholecystectomy, when compared to open surgery, is associated with less postoperative pain, quicker recovery time and an improved cosmetic result. Most commonly, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is performed using a 10-12mm port in the umbilicus with 3 additional ports consisting of either three 5mm ports, or a combination of two 5mm ports and one 10mm port. A new technique called minilaparoscopic (also referred to as needlescopic) surgery has recently emerged. Minilaparoscopic surgery replaces 5mm trocars with smaller 3mm trocars. Surgery using these smaller trocars is hypothesized to further reduce postoperative pain and recovery time as well as improve cosmetic results following laparoscopic surgery. Our goal is to compare these outcomes in a randomized trial comparing conventional to minilaparoscopic cholecystectomy.