Objective To evaluate the safety,clinical and financial aspects of laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC).Methods 278 cases undergone LC and 234 cases undergone open cholecystectomy(OC)were compared in retrospective study.Results LC was as safe as OC.In favour of LC,significant differences were observed regarding the time of severe pain,hospitalization and recovery.The total occurences of postoperative complications were low in all the patients undergone LC or OC,and its significantly lower in patients undergone LC than that in those undergone OC.Furthermore,the total charges for LC were significantly lower than that for OC.Conclusions LC is as safe as OC and has clan obvious advantage over OC in clinical,social and financial aspects.