Pulmonary function and complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Objective: To investigate the impairment of pulmonary function and complications after laparoscopic compared with open cholecystectomy through an upper midline incision.Design: Prospective randomised trial.Setting: Teaching hospital, Spain.Subjects: 40 patients, 20 in each group.Interventions: Clinical examination, spirometry, arterial blood gas analysis, and chest radiographs before and after operation.Results: 48 hours postoperatively FVC and FEV had decreased to 56.7% and 53%, respectively, in the patients who had had open cholecystectomy, compared with 85.3% and 84.8% in the laparoscopic group (p < 0.0001). The mean (SD) postoperative percentage reductions in both Pa02 (86.1 (11.1) comp…