A retrospective analysis of the outcome and surgical complications of two groups of patients undergoing cholecystectomy was performed. Group I consisted of 253 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1991 and 1994, and group II was formed by 292 patients who met the same preoperative criteria than patients of group I and underwent open cholecystectomy between 1986 and 1990, prior to the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our hospital. General characteristics and associated clinical conditions were similar for both groups. Intraoperative cholangiography was used more frequently in group II whereas preoperative ERCP was performed more frequently in group I patients. There was no operative mortality in any of the groups. There were no statistically significant differences between both groups in terms of type and number of complications.