ObjectiveTo compare the hospital charges incu rred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC).MethodsT he authors selected 100 cases of LC and 100 cases of OC of 1991 (initial per iod of LC) and 2000 (mature period of LC), respectively. Comparisons on hospital charges be tween the two procedures of both periods were made. ResultsT hat total charges of LC (2575 86?261 61)yuan were significantly higher than those of OC (1240 61?382 67)yuan ( t =28 805, P