Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an original three-trocar technique.

At present, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for gallbladder stones. The operating technique reported by most authors includes the use of four trocars. We report a group of 710 consecutive patients treated by an original three-trocar technique. The use of the fourth trocar was necessary in only 55 cases (8%). However, among 56 cases of acute cholecystitis the use of the fourth trocar was necessary in 14 cases (25%) (p < 0.01). Twenty-six laparoscopies were converted to open procedures (3.6%). Four common bile duct injuries were observed (0.5%): two of them among the 655 operations with three trocars (0.3%) and two after application of the fourth trocar at the beginning of the procedure because of dissection difficulties. Our results are similar to those using the "classic" four-trocar technique. Moreover, this technique is less expensive and allows one less scar.