Early Vs Interval Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis: an Experience at Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital, Lahore

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice in chronic cholecystitis. The probability of employing this procedure for cases of acute cholecystitis has always remained a question. Aim: To assess its safety and practicability in acute cholecystitis and to compare the results with interval cholecystectomy. Methods: Between 2010 and 2013, 88 patients with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis were assigned to two groups. Group A (n=47) and group B (n= 41). The group A patients underwent cholecystectomy within 48 hours of admission while the group B patients were offered initial conservative management followed 6 weeks later by interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results: Regarding conversion rates (early, 14.89% vs delayed, 14.63%), operating times (early, 51.28 min vs delayed, 46.09 min), or postoperative complications (early, 27.65% vs delayed, 26.82%) were almost similar. However, the group A patients had significantly shorter hospital stay (5.08 vs 7.99 days). Conclusions: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and practical in cases of acute cholecystitis. It has an added benefit of a shorter hospital stay. The procedure is recommended to patients with acute cholecystitis.