A safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy depends upon the establishment of a critical view of safety

Bile duct injuries (BDI) during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) occur more frequently than during an open cholecystectomy. Many expert surgeons learn to perform procedures safely based on their experience. Above all, the critical view of safety (CVS) introduced by Strasberg in 1995 is the standard practice to prevent BDI during an LC. The CVS is achieved by clearing all fat and fibrous tissue in Calot's triangle, after which the cystic structures can be clearly identified, occluded, and divided. Failure to successfully create this view may be an indication for conversion to an open cholecystectomy. The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery (JSES) introduced an accreditation examination in 2004. The critical view is an important factor used to judge a safe dissection. The annual ratios of successful applicants were 63% in 2004, 45% in 2005, 36% in 2006, 39% in 2007, and 44% in 2008. Biennial questionnaire surveys by JSES show that the laparoscopic BDI rates were 0.66% in 1990-2001, 0.79% in 2002, 0.77% in 2003, 0.66% in 2004, 0.77% in 2005, 0.65% in 2006, and 0.58% in 2007. Therefore, 2007 was the first year in which the rate was below 0.6%. A decreasing BDI rate is therefore expected because successful candidates will introduce technical improvements to colleagues in their hospitals and local regions.