On March 17, 1987, Philippe Mouret performed the first laparoscopic cholecystectomy, in Lyon, France. This date represents a profound epistemological leap: “before that, there was nothing, after that there was laparoscopic surgery.” Patients have deserted the waiting rooms of conventional surgeons and crowd into those of the laparoscopic surgeons. Moreover, laparoscopic surgery now forms a fundamental part of all standard surgeons’ training courses.
According to Philippe Mouret, the first cholecystectomy was performed quite naturally, without premeditation. The patient was a woman of about 50 years, suffering from painful pelvic adhesions, who had been referred to him for laparoscopic adhesiolysis. The patient also suffered from symptomatic gallbladder lithiasis, and had asked him if he would perform both operations at the same time. The operation schedule mentioned: “laparoscopy, gynecological adhesiolysis, and cholecystectomy.”
Twenty Years of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Philippe Mouret—March 17, 1987
