Laparoscopic cholecystectomy produces less postoperative restriction of pulmonary function than open cholecystectomy.

This study was undertaken to determine whether laparoscopy produces less postoperative decrease in pulmonary function than does open operation. Ten elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients (LC group) were compared to 10 elective open cholecystectomy patients (OC group). Spirometry was performed preoperatively and then postoperatively as soon as each patient was awake and cooperative. The two groups were similar with respect to age, gender, and preexisting medical illness. No patient had underlying cardiopulmonary disease. Postoperatively, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and maximum forced expiratory flow decreased to 56%, 55%, and 43% of preoperative values in the OC group and to 72%, 76%, and 81% of preoperative values in the LC group. These decreases were significantly greater in the OC group as compared to the LC group, P values < or = 0.05. Cholecystectomy had a significant restrictive effect on immediate postoperative pulmonary function. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy produced significantly less restriction.