The authors retrospective analyze the role of golden standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. They make a comparison between the results of 50 early cholecystectomy and 44 "a froid" cholecystectomy (operation was postponed until 6 weeks after acute cholecystitis had healed). From January 1997 to December 1998 536 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. In 491 cases (91.6%) laparoscopic, and in 45 cases (8.4%) traditional (opening) method was indicated. Converted cholecystectomies were in 36 cases (7.3%). Agreeing to the literature they can determine the optimal timing of the operation in 72 hours from the onset of acute cholecystitis [2, 4]. In this group (first group) there were 50 cases, with 14 conversions (28%). In the second group (postponed, so called "a froid" phase) there were 44 patients. From this group was the intraoperative diagnosis serious acute-subacute cholecystitis in 24 cases (54.54%) causing complicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy and resulting in 11 conversions (11/44: 25%). The causes of the higher rate of conversion were the grave inflammation and slow dissection of central formation. There were no serious complication and mortality in both groups. It was diagnosed bile leak (two cases) which ceased spontaneously, one haematoma in abdominal layers, and one trocar's hernia. The authors have recommended the laparoscopic cholecystectomy for early diagnose acute cholecystitis in order to prevent the complications and reduce the sick-leave. Supporting their viewpoint the most important clinical end economical facts are: the recurrence of inflammation forced urgent surgery and caused more complication in the course of "a froid" phase there were scrutable anatomical situation the patients recovered in a shorter time.

From March 1994 to March 1999 359 laparoscopic hernioplasties have been performed on 295 patients. In 349 cases (97.2%) TAPP (transabdominal preperitoneal), in 10 cases (2.8%) TEP (total extraperitoneal) method was used for the treatment. In 64 cases (21.7%) bilateral hernias were operated using TAPP-method only. There were 15 hidden hernias and 14 recurrences on the contralateral side in this group. The hernial ring was covered with two smaller meshes or one bigger. There were no intraoperative complications. In 21 cases (32.8%) subcutaneous emphysema and in 3 cases (4.6%) sero-haematoma was developed. The emphysemas were solved spontaneously in 2-3 hours after the surgery. One haematoma was needed punction. The patients were discharged from the hospital on the second or third postoperative day. The authors found that the bilateral laparoscopic hernioplasty much more favourable for the patients.

Cholecystectomies and hernioplasties are the two most frequently performed surgical interventions. The laparoscopic technique can be offered for the simultaneous treatment with both operating indications. The synchronical operation can give all the advantages of the minimally invasive technique. Authors had performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy with laparoscopic hernioplasty in five cases. Two inguinal and three postoperative hernias were reconstructed. The cholecystectomy was performed with a "three punction method", and the hernioplasty by using the same approach, completed by inserting a fourth assisting trocar as required. The hernial ring was covered with an intraperitoneally placed mesh, which was fixed by staplers (the so-called "IPOM-method": intraperitoneal on-lay mesh). There was no intra-, nor postoperative complication. The hernioplasty combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not have effect on postoperative pain and nursing time. The return to the normal physical activity was short, similar to laparoscopic hernioplasty (in 1-2 weeks). Authors conclude that the simultaneous, synchronous laparoscopic cholecystectomy and hernioplasty is recommended and should be the method of choice because it is more advantageous for patients.

As enthusiasm for laparoscopic surgery has grown, laparoscopic approaches to the groin hernia have evolved. The most widely accepted laparoscopic repair employs the placement of a large sheet of mesh in a preperitoneal position to cover potential hernia spaces. Between March 1994 and February 1997 160 inguinal and 3 femoral hernia were operated of an transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) polipropylen mesh. 131 patients were operated (128 males and 3 females, ranging in age from 19 to 82 years), 31 (23%) of them had bilateral hernias. Recurrent hernia was the indication in 52 (32%) cases. Average operating time for unilateral repair was 80 minutes and for bilateral repairs was 108 minutes. Postoperative complications included 7 (4.3%) cases of transient neuralgias, 20 (12%) cord/scrotal transient seromas-hematomas and 2 (1.2%) hydrocele. The 5 (3.1%) early recurrences were considered to be caused by technical inexperience and/or too small prosthetic patch. The laparoscopic hernioplasty has definitive advantage: minimal postoperative pain, short hospital stay (average postoperative time of hospitalization 3.1 days) and early restoration of full physical activity (in 1 to 2 weeks). The method should be considered as a potential "best option" in patients with recurrences and bilateral inguinofemoral hernias.

The development of minimally invasive surgery has accepted the challenge by having tried to repair inguino-femoral hernias laparoscopically. The authors performed 65 laparoscopic hernioplasties in one year. "Transabdominal preperitoneal" technique was applied in 61 cases and "intraperitoneal onlay mesh" in 4 cases. Fifty-three patients were operated, 12 of them had bilateral hernias. Recurrent hernia was the indication in 22 patients (34%). The average operating time was 102 and 144 minutes in the unilateral and the bilateral cases, respectively. There was neither wound infection, nor general complication. Spontaneously dissolving seroma/haematoma of the spermatic cord was noticed (detected by ultrasound) in 5 patients (7.7%). The neuralgia caused by the irritation of the nerves of the region in 4 patients (6.1%) disappeared without sequels after treatment with vitamins B. The 2 early recurrences (3.2%) were considered to be caused by technical unexperience; the affected patients were treated successfully with the "intraperitoneal onlay mesh" technique. It is emphasized that laparoscopic hernioplasty has definite advantages, namely minimal postoperative pain, early mobilization, short hospital stay and early restoration of full physical activity (in 1 to 2 weeks). On the other hand, general anaesthesia and intraperitoneal invasion are required and the operation consumes much time and cost.