Early vs. Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis – A Single Center Study

Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is regarded as the gold standard for the treatment of acute cholecystitis; however the timing of the procedure is controversial. There exist studies that support both early and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Aim: The aim of the study is to determine which modality: early or delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred timing in the treatment of acute cholecystitis by examining: duration of hospitalization, conversion rate, duration of surgery and intraoperative, postoperative complications. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 300 patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed within 72 hours of admission for patients in the Early LC Group. Patients in the Delayed LC group were treated conservatively and discharged They were readmitted 6-12 weeks later for elective laparoscopic. Results: The mean operating time was 83.55 mins vs. 60.72 mins in the delayed group, conversion rate in Early LC Group was 5.3% vs. 8.0 % in the delayed LC group. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 1.98 days in the earlier group and 3.35 days in the delayed group. Overall mortality was zero. Conclusion: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 72 hours of symptom onset offers both medical and economic benefits and should be the preferred method for patients treated by surgeons with adequate laparoscopic cholecystectomy experience.