Objective      To evaluate the growth and quality of life of children who underwent endoscopic minimally invasive cholecystolithotomy (EMIC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for cholecystolithiasis.        Methods      A prospective survey of 25 children receiving EMIC (EMIC group) and 27 children receiving LC (LC group) in our hospital from July 2011 to June 2014 was carried out. The height

body weight and gastrointestinal quality of life index (GQLI) at pre-operation and in 6 month

and 1

2 and 3 years after operation were separately measured.       Results      The mean height and body weight were 119 cm and 22 kg in the EMIC group

and were 121 cm and 23 kg in the LC group at pre-operation. The height and body weight of both groups were increased significantly at the 6th month after operation compared with the preoperative values (P0.05). The height and body weight of the EMIC group were higher than those of the LC group at 1 year after operation

but the difference was not statistically significant (P0.05). The height and body weight of the EMIC group were higher than those of the LC group at 2 and 3 years after operation

and the difference was statistically significant (P0.05). The height and body weight of the LC group were still in the minimums of normal school-age children (normal school-age child height: 136.8-144.7 cm

body weight: 29.8-34.1 kg). The mean GLQI scores were 112 and 109 at pre-operation in the EMIC group and the LC group

respectively. The GLQI scores of both groups increased significantly at 6th month after operation compared with the preoperative scores (P0.05). The GLQI score of the EMIC group reached the normal level (123)

higher than that (114) of the LC group at the 1st year after operation

which was mainly in the aspect of symptomatology and psychological emotional state. At the 2nd year and 3rd year after operation

the GLQI scores (116

119) of the LC group were significantly lower than those (124

125) of the EMIC group (P0.01). The GLQI score of the LC group did not reach the normal level at 3rd year after operation.       Conclusions      EMIC is more beneficial to the growth and development of children and the improvement of quality of life than LC.