Background: Gallstone disease is a common surgical condition, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment due to reduced post-operative pain and faster recovery. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) laparoscopy lacks depth perception, which may affect surgical precision. Three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopy aims to overcome this limitation by providing stereoscopic vision. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of 3D and 2D laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The primary objective was to evaluate operative time, whereas secondary objectives included intraoperative complications, conversion to open surgery, post-operative pain, hospital stay, and surgeon satisfaction. Materials and Methods: A prospective comparative study was conducted over 1 year, including 100 patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Patients were allocated into two groups: 3D (n=50) and 2D (n=50). Standard surgical techniques were used. Outcomes were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with P<0.05 considered significant. Results: The 3D group demonstrated significantly shorter operative time compared to the 2D group. Post-operative pain scores at 24 h and hospital stay were also significantly lower in the 3D group. Conversion rates and complication rates were comparable between the groups. Surgeon satisfaction and ergonomics were significantly better with 3D laparoscopy. Conclusion: 3D laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers advantages in operative efficiency, post-operative recovery, and surgeon comfort over conventional 2D laparoscopy. Its selective adoption may improve surgical outcomes and training.
Chauhan et al. (2026) studied this question.