Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: strategy and concerns.

After briefly describing the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed by Philippe Mouret, the authors review some of the differences in strategy, management and concerns between conventional and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. They address the problems relating to the required skills of triangulation and camera handling, the presence of common-duct stones and concomitant disease, the issues of drainage, hemostasis, access in difficult cases, iatrogenic trauma to the bile ducts and pertinent differences in cardiorespiratory function.