COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF LAPAROTOMIC AND LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Cholelithiasis and inflammatory diseases of the gallbladder remain among the most common surgical pathologies worldwide. The development of minimally invasive surgery significantly transformed the management of gallbladder diseases, especially after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The present article analyzes and compares laparotomic and laparoscopic cholecystectomy regarding surgical effectiveness, postoperative recovery, complications, hospital stay, economic impact, and patient quality of life. A review of contemporary clinical studies demonstrates that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for uncomplicated gallbladder disease due to reduced trauma, lower postoperative pain, shorter hospitalization, and improved cosmetic outcomes. Nevertheless, laparotomic cholecystectomy remains important in complicated cases such as severe adhesions, gallbladder perforation, advanced inflammation, or malignancy. The article discusses indications, contraindications, operative techniques, intraoperative challenges, postoperative outcomes, and future perspectives of both methods.