Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard for the treatment of gallbladder lithiasis; nevertheless, the incidence of bile duct injuries (BDI) is still high (0.3-0.8%) compared to open cholecystectomy (0.2%). In 1995, Strasberg introduced the "Critical View of Safety" (CVS) to reduce the risk of BDI. Despite its widespread use, the scientific evidence supporting this technique to prevent BDI is controversial. Methods Between March 2017 and March 2019, the data of patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 30 Italian surgical departments were collected on a national database. A survey was submitted to all members of Italian Digestive Pathology Society to obtain data on the preoperative workup, the surgical and postoperative management of patients and to judge, at the end of the procedure, if the isolation of the elements was performed according to the CVS. In the case of a declared critical view, iconographic documentation was obtained, finally reviewed by an external auditor. Results Data from 604 patients were analysed. The study population was divided into two groups according to the evidence (Group A; n = 11) or absence (Group B; N = 593) of BDI and perioperative bleeding. The non-use of CVS was found in 54.6% of procedures in the Group A, and 25.8% in the Group B, and evaluating the operator-related variables the execution of CVS was associated with a significantly lower incidence of BDI and intraoperative bleeding. Conclusions The CVS confirmed to be the safest technique to recognize the elements of the Calot triangle and, if correctly performed, it significantly impacted on preventing intraoperative complications. Additional educational programs on the correct application of CVS in clinical practice would be desirable to avoid extreme conditions that may require additional procedures. Keywords Cholecystectomy • Critical view of safety • Laparoscopy • Bile duct injuries • Intraoperative bleeding • Laparoscopic training Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is currently and worldwide considered the gold standard for the treatment of gallbladder lithiasis. Since its introduction, in the early 1990s, this procedure has gained a remarkable consensus until becoming a routine surgical procedure. LC is characterized by a reduction in postoperative pain, hospital stay, and recovery times to normal daily activities, which translates into reduced costs for the national healthcare systems (NHS) [1]. However, this procedure comes with an increased incidence of bile duct injuries (BDI), compared to open cholecystectomy (OC): 0.3% and 0.8% vs 0.2% [2-7]. LC-related BDIs include minor injuries up to complex hilar injuries, as classified by Strasberg et al., in which the and Other Interventional Techniques