Abstract
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as a typical example of minimal invasive surgery, is
associated with low complication rates and minimal patient discomfort, and provides
the same safety as conventional cholecystectomy. In the present prospective observational
study, endocrine parameters as indicators for stress response were measured. We investigated
53 patients with laparoscopy cholecystectomy and 12 patients with conventional cholecystectomy.
Blood samples were taken pre-, peri-, and postoperatively for measurement of ACTH,
cortisol, prolactin, and growth hormone, General anesthesia followed as standardized
protocol. The increase in all stress hormones die not differ between patients in the
two groups, and was comparable with that reported in the literature and the findings
of our own previous studies in patients undergoing conventional cholecystectomy and
elective colon resection. We conclude that laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated
with a pronounced endocrine stress response that does not account for the observed
difference in the peri- and postoperative complication rate or patient comfort.
