Preliminary report: endoscopic laser-microsurgical removal of human gallbladder.

An alternative surgical instrumentation and technique to laser laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LLC) with a case report is presented. Thousands of patients have benefited from the conceptual and practical revolution brought about through LLC (i.e., minimal surgical trauma). The minimal invasiveness of this procedure also can help make surgical treatment more acceptable by the public. The instruments and technique presented are redesigns of ones used in laryngology for 30 years. Utilizing them would provide major cost reduction. Most hospitals around the world already have operating microscopes, electrocoagulation equipment, and CO2 lasers. Some of these are underutilized. The presented patient case shows that the procedure can have similar benefits to LLC, in some respects even more. This open endoscopic technique and instrumentation may be suitable to other abdominal or thoracic procedures.