EARLY LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN GALLSTONE PANCREATITIS

Gallstones are one of the major causes of “acute pancreatitis” and thus “laparoscopic cholecystectomy” should be planned to remove these stones. However, timing of surgery has been a topic of debate and it is still unclear that which option provides better outcomes. Objectives: To compare the outcomes of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in gallstone pancreatitis. Methods: This two-phase quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Nawaz Sharif Medical College / Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Gujrat, Pakistan from May 2024 till August 2024. A total of 78 patients admitted with “acute gallstone pancreatitis” were included. Half of the patients in first phase of the study underwent “early laparoscopic cholecystectomy” while remaining half in second phase of the study underwent “delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy”. Outcomes between both the groups were compared. Data was analyzed through SPSS version 20. Results: Mean age was 42.97 ± 5.68 years. There were 15 (19.23%) male and 63 (80.77%) female patients. Mean BMI was 32.95 ± 4.98 kg/m2. Mean operative time in “early LC” group was 76.28 ± 9.71 minutes while in “delayed LC” group, it was 86.43 ± 9.80 minutes (p < 0.001). There was significantly less frequency of presence of adhesions in the operative field (p = 0.01) and intra-operative bleeding (0.05) in “early LC” group. Mean hospitalization length in “early LC” group was 6.71 ± 1.33 days while in “delayed LC” group, it was 12.33 ± 3.08 days (p < 0.001). Frequency of recurrent pancreatitis in “early LC” group was significantly less as compared to “delayed LC” group, (p = 0.002). Conclusion: “Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy” is a safer and better surgical option as compared to “delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy” for management of “gallstone pancreatitis”.