The Learning Curve in Laparoscopic Liver Surgery

The Shakespearian-like dilemma facing the general surgeon — to open or not to open [the abdomen] — before being ready to perform a laparoscopic chole- cystectomy (LC) was hotly debated at round tables and symposia in the early days of the laparoscopic era. Reality, as often happens in life, quickly resolved the many discussions and conflicting reports around this subject [1].