A BS T R A C T BACKGROUND Gallstone disease or cholelithiasis is a significant health problem in both developing and developed nations. It affects 10 % to 15 % of the adult population in western countries. The prevalence of gallbladder stones varies widely in different communities in India with North Indians having 2-to 4-fold higher prevalence as compared with the South Indians. In the present study apart from studying the epidemiology, i.e., demographic factors, dietary habits, clinical

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... tation, and diagnostic tools, the techniques of laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy are compared and complications after surgery are studied in a rural population in southern Odisha. METHODS It is a prospective observational study comprising of 128 patients conducted in the . Patients with symptomatic and USG proven gallstones were selected for the study. Also, comparison was made between laparoscopic and open techniques of cholecystectomy. RESULTS The female to male ratio of GSD was 2.3:1 with maximum number of patients in the 41 -50 yrs. age group. 85 patients had laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 39 patients underwent open cholecystectomy. 7 patients had common bile duct stones. The average duration of surgery in laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 44.5 mins while the average duration of surgery in open cholecystectomy was 74.5 mins. The average duration of post-operative pain was 32.5 hours in open cholecystectomy in comparison to 19.4 hours in cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS Mean age of the patients was 46.76 years with a female-male ratio of 2.3:1. Gallstones are more prevalent in patients consuming a non-vegetarian diet. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was the preferred technique and was found to be associated with lesser operative time, lower hospital stays, less post-operative pain and better cosmesis.