During the past 5 years, traditional open cholecystectomy was performed on 344 patients with gallbladder stones at our hospital. Using the data obtained, we studied the indications and results of traditional open cholecystectomy. In the cases of gallbladder stones with a history of cholecystitis, cholecystectomy was performed as a rule by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, traditional open cholecystectomy was chosen in cases which were complicated by perforation, pericholecystic abscess, internal biliary fistra, cirrhosis, or suspicious carcinoma of gallbladder. Investigation of the time of operation revealed that early operation tended to be performed easily. However, cases with gallbladder stones were often complicated with carcinoma of alimentary tracts, therefore before operation we must examine the alimentary tract. Cases in which gallbladder could not be visualized under ERCP, and those accompanied by pericholecystic abscess under US were difficult to operate on by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Thus many cases required laparotomy. Postoperative complications of open cholecystectomy were rare, it was concluded that traditional cholecystectomy is one of the most valuable procedures for the treatment of gallbladder stones.