Sample
Between 2004 and 2007, all patients on a waiting
list for cholecystectomy
(n=416) were asked about participation
in the larger study (n=100). Of these, the last 31
patients were asked, when they attended for a
1-year follow-up, about participation in the present
study. Three patients declined and one patient
failed to turn up. The final selection comprised 13
women and 14 men aged 25–83 years with an
average age of 55.4 years. The waiting time before
surgery ranged from 19 to 184 days (mean=72,
median=55). Twenty-five of these patients were
treated using a laparoscopic technique, two using
open surgery.