Abstract
ABSTRACT
A questionnaire on the necessity and ethics of a randomized trial to compare laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy was sent to 200 randomly selected surgeons in the British Isles, of whom 117 replied. Of these, 58% thought that a trial was needed to compare laparoscopic cholecystectomy with open cholecystectomy by either minilaparotomy or the conventional approach. Nearly half (45%) expressed interest in participating in such a trial. A hypothetical protocol for a trial was sent to 40 ethical committees; 25 gave approval and only 3 considered that a trial was unethical (12 refused to comment). This survey shows wide support for a trial comparing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with open cholecystectomy.
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