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This paper reports 121 laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) in patients who had had previous abdominal surgery between June 1990 and August 1992. There were 93 cases with lower abdominal scar (LS) and 28 with upper or umbilicus midline scar (US). For insertion of the laparoscope in the scarred abdomen we use the conventional laparoscopic approach (CLA), the peritoneum perforation under vision approach (PP), and the open laparoscopic approach (OLA). One hundred twenty scarred abdomens were completed successfully. Conversion to an open procedure was required in one case with previous LS, because of injury of the jejunum. One postoperative intraabdominal hematoma was noted and treated with percutaneous catheter drainage. No reoperation was required and no further complications were noted. Patients who had a previous laparotomy had no substantially longer operative time or postoperative hospital stay. Revealing a total complication rate of 1.6%, this study shows that previous abdominal surgery should no longer be considered a contraindication to LC.

The risk of missing coexisting diseases during laparoscopic operations has to be minimized by placing additional emphasis on careful evaluation of anamnesis. Physical examination and additional laboratory tests--such as analysis of tumor markers and blood in the stool--combined with complete abdominal ultrasonography, gastroscopy, and/or complete colonoscopy should be performed prior to LC.

Seventy patients after rectosigmoid resection were randomized to a rectal anastomosis either in the single or double stapling technique. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. A trend in favor of the double stapling technique was noted: 2.8 percent clinical leaks vs. 8.6 percent in the single stapling technique.