BACKGROUND Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the "gold standard" in treating benign gallbladder diseases. Increasing laparoscopic experience and techniques have made laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) a feasible option in more complex procedures. In recent years, few studies with a few cases of LSC have reported good results in patients with various types of cholecystitis. This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility, indications, characteristics and benefits of LSC in patients with complicated cholecystitis. METHODS Altogether, 3485 patients were scheduled to receive LC during the past 4 years at our institute. Among them, 168 patients with various complicated forms of cholecystitis were treated by LSC. Meanwhile, the other 3317 patients who received standard LC were enrolled as the control group. Perioperative data from the two groups were collected and retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS In the LSC group, 135 patients suffered from acute calculic cholecystitis, 18 from chronic calculic cholecystitis with cirrhotic portal hypertention, and 15 from chronic calculic atrophy cholecystitis with severe fibrosis. These patients constituted 4.8% of the total patients who underwent LC (168/3485) in the same period at our institute. In 122 patients, the cystic duct and artery were clipped before division. In another 46 patients, the gallbladder was initially incised at Hartmann's pouch. Five patients (3.0%) were converted to open subtotal cholecystectomy. The median operation time for LSC was 65.5 +/- 15.2 minutes, estimated operative blood loss was 71.5+/-15.5 ml, and the time to resume diet was 20.4 +/- 6.3 hours. Thirteen patients (7.7%) had local complications. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.2 +/- 2.6 days. In the LC group, 2887 had chronic calculic cholecystitis, 312 had acute calculic cholecystitis, 47 had chronic calculic atrophy cholecystitis, and 71 had polypus. Seventeen patients (0.5%) were converted to open cholecystectomy. The median operation time was 32.6 +/- 10.2 minutes, the estimated operative blood loss was 24.5 +/- 8.5 ml, and the time to resume diet was 18.3 +/- 4.5 hours. Thirty-nine patients (1.2%) had local complications. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 3.8 +/- 1.4 days. There was no bile duct injury or mortality in either group. CONCLUSIONS LSC for patients with complicated cholecystitis is difficult, with a longer operation time, more operative blood loss and higher conversion and complication rates than LC. However, it is feasible and relatively safe. LSC is advantageous over open surgery, but it remains a non-routine choice. It is important to know the technical characteristics of LSC, and pay attention to perioperative bleeding and bile leak.