[Surgical treatment in acute cholecystitis emergencies]

The aim of the study was to demonstrate the importance of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, without "conservative" treatment (intravenous fluids and antibiotics for 48-72 hours) to reduce inflammation. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces bile duct injury and the percentage of conversion to open cholecystectomy. Thirty-five patients with acute cholecystitis were submitted to early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, equally divided according to sex. All patients were submitted to US scans preoperatively and operated on by surgeons skilled in emergency laparoscopic operative techniques. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was always performed with 4 trochars and the use of a 30 degrees laparoscope. Technical modifications during early laparoscopic cholecystectomy were drainage and decompression with subsequent de-tension and distention of the gallbladder. These manoeuvres entailed the use of Babcock, Endopatch (Ethicon) atraumatic forceps. In the presence of acute gallbladder inflammation we dissect the gall-blader well with a suction-irrigation tube. In patients suspected of having common bile duct stones, biliary duct injuries and/or anatomical changes due to inflammation, we perform intraoperative cholangiography. Five patients had conversion to open cholecystectomy (14.2%), in two cases (5.7%) for concomitant choledochal stones, in two cases (5.7%) for biliary peritonitis and in the fifth case (2.8%) for severe empyema of the gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 20 patients for acute cholecystitis (57.1%), in 9 patients for empyema (25.7%) and in 6 patients for gangrenous cholecystitis. Four cases presented postoperative complications owing to bile leakage from the liver bed, treated with antibiotic therapy. One patient presented jaundice on day 30 after laparoscopy owing to inadequate positioning of the clips on the cystic duct, near the common bile duct; ERCP was performed with application of a prosthesis, which was removed after two months. Our experience and results support the validity of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis, because it reduces the postoperative length of hospital stay and hospital costs. Early treatment is always helpful for inflamed and oedematous tissue which favours dissection, while dense, fibrotic adhesions hinder regular dissection with a greater risk of injury to the biliary duct and and a higher conversion rate to open cholecystectomy.