Purpose: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been the treatment of choice for acute and chronic disease of the gallbladder. We have performed 621 cases of LC from January 02 2001 to April 30 2008. This study aims to clinically analyze 621 cases of LC that were performed by a single surgeon over a 7 year period and to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic treatment for gallbladder disease.
Methods: From January 02 2001 to April 30 2008, 621 patients underwent LC at the Department of Surgery by a single surgeon. We retrospectively analyzed the patients' ages, gender distribution and chief complaints, the operation times, the duration of hospitalization, the conversion rate to open cholecystectomy and the causes, the diagnostic methods and the postoperative complications through a review of the patients' charts.
Results: The mean age was 46 years and the ratio of males to females was 1：1.4. The most common chief complaint was right upper quadrant pain (52.97%). The mean operative time was 67.37 minutes and the duration of hospitalization was 5.12 days and the duration of postoperative hospitalization was 3.86 days. The conversion rate was 3.29% and the most common cause of conversion was anatomic uncertainty due to inflammatory adhesion. Abdominal sonography was the most common diagnostic method and this was performed in 73.27% of the patients. The postoperative complication rate was 1.93%.
Conclusion: LC has become the gold standard for the treatment of benign gallbladder diseases. We think that LC is effective and safe, and even at a secondary care hospital, if the surgeon has accumulated operative experience and improved operative skill.

Keywords: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, Cholecystitis, Single surgeon