The laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard in the therapy of gall bladder stones in the last few years. The most contraindications of the first period of the laparoscopic era had been eliminated by the development of laparoscopic technique and growing experience. Since September 1995 the laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been established as routine procedure also for acute cholecystitis. From September 1995 to Dezember 1996 177 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed, 132 for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis and 45 for acute cholecystitis. Postoperative complications occurred in 8.3% in the elective group and in 8.8% in the acute cholecystitis group. There was no death in both groups. Patients left the hospital on day 3 (range 2-21) in the elective group, on day 4 (1-13) in the acute colecystitis group. There are no statistically significant differences. According to our results acute cholecystitis does not increase postoperative morbidity and mortality after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and has to be a contraindication for this method no longer.