When do doctors do open cholecystectomies over laparoscopic procedures?

Safety reasons: When there is unfavorable anatomy, too much scarring or other anatomic factors. One of the risks of the surgery is injury to the common bile duct, and some surgeons will open to better visualize the anatomy. Arguably some surgeons claim the laparoscopic view is better.

Based on situation: Three common reasons: 1. Gallbladder disease is so severe as to make identifying the anatomy too difficult via laparoscopy. 2. When previous operations that leave scar tissue prevent the ability to gain safe laparoscopic access into the abdomen. 3. Finally, some patients with heart or lung disease due not tolerate laparoscopy due to the need to pressurize the abdomen. There are other reasons.