Outcomes of Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Cases of Acute Cholecystitis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common laparoscopic surgery performed in the world. The initial treatment of acute calculus cholecystitis includes GIT rest, intravenous fluid, correction of electrolyte imbalance from repeated vomiting, good analgesia, and intravenous antibiotics. Following this treatment, patients with uncomplicated disease are managed on outpatient basis and are called for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy after a period of 6-8 weeks.

Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the gold standard for treatment of symptomatic gallstones. However, in the early days, acute cholecystitis was a contraindication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and patients with acute cholecystitis were managed conservatively and discharged for re-admission in order to have elective surgery performed for the definitive treatment.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, within 72 hours of presentation,has been advocated because of shorter hospital stay, decreased financial costs and reduced readmission rates. Previously cited reasons against early laparoscopic cholecystectomy include the increased technical difficulties, increased risk of conversion to an open procedure (6-35 % in some studies) and increased risks of biliary complications such as bile leaks and common bile duct (CBD) injuries when operating on an inflamed gallbladder with edematous planes and distorted anatomy.