Ambulatory cholecystectomy without disability.

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.