Surgery for acute cholecystitis in Denmark

Objective. Despite laparoscopic cholecystectomy being the preferred treatment for elective cholecystectomy, surgery for acute cholecystitis is often performed using the open method. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and to determine the proportion of laparoscopically completed procedures compared with all cholecystectomies for acute cholecystitis. Material and methods. Data from the Danish National Patient Registry were analysed. The annual numbers of all cholecystectomies and of cholecystectomies performed for acute cholecystitis from 1996 to 2004 were registered. Separate data for open and laparoscopic operations were obtained. Results. An increase in the number of cholecystectomies for acute cholecystitis from 13.6 in 1996 to 17.2/100,000 in 2004 was observed (p < 0.05). In 1996, 41% of cholecystectomies performed for acute cholecystitis were completed laparoscopically as compared with 64% in 2004 (p < 0.05). For laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed for reasons other than acute cholecystitis, the corresponding rates were 78% and 87%, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The total number of patients having cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis has increased as has the rate of laparoscopically completed procedures. It is not known whether it is possible to obtain a further reduction in the number of open cholecystectomies.