Assessing the appropriate use of laparoscopic surgery for hepatobiliary diseases

The range of indications for laparoscopic surgery has widened since it was first introduced. The aim of the present study was to develop standards for the appropriate use of laparoscopic surgery in patients with choledocholithiasis or cholelithiasis. We conducted a study following the RAND appropriateness method (RAM) to develop criteria for hepatobiliary laparoscopy. A panel comprised of 7 experts rated the appropriateness of a set of...