The impact of gallbladder aspiration during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective randomized study was to investigate the effect of gallbladder aspiration during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the operative and postoperative course of patients. METHODS: Between August 2005 and February 2007, 160 consecutive patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis were randomized into 2 clinically comparable groups. Gallbladders were aspirated before dissection in group A (aspiration, n = 80), and they were not aspirated in group C (control, n = 80). Patients' characteristics and general operative outcomes were compared and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean dissection time (P = .45), amount of gas used (P = .49), and liver bed bleeding (P = .30) were not significantly different between group A and group C. Similarly, there were no differences between the groups regarding gallbladder perforation (P = .12), spillage of gallstones into the abdominal cavity (P = 1.00), or wound infection (P = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that routine gallbladder aspiration is unnecessary in elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy.