Is laparoscopic cholecystectomy a safe alternative to open cholecystectomy for pediatric patients with cholelithiasis?

The results with five pediatric patients (6-15 years) who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis are reported here. One patient had associated hematological disease (sickle-cell anemia). All five children were submitted to surgery using the laparoscopic technique. Intraoperative cholangiography was performed in two cases with uncertain ductal and vascular intraoperative anatomy. None of the operations was converted to open cholecystectomy, and there were no operative complications. The mean hospital stay was 2.2 days (range 2-3 days). All five children were able to return to normal activity within a week. No long-term complications were seen in any of the patients during an average follow-up period of 10.6 months (range 8-14). We believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children is safe and effective, and that it is an important alternative to open cholecystectomy. However, prospective comparative studies of the procedure are necessary.