The laparoscopic challenge of cholecystitis

To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in acute and chronic cholecystitis and compare it with the open procedure.

This is a 5-year retrospective analysis performed at our hospital. Surgical treatment of gallbladder disease was performed in 1003 patients. Acute cholecystitis was present in 120 (11.9%) patients, and chronic cholecystitis was present in 830 (88.1%). Acute patients underwent surgery within 72 hours of symptom onset. The patients selected for LC or open cholecystectomy (OC) depended on the severity of disease, comorbid factors, and surgeon's preference. We reviewed age, sex, operating time, length of stay, perioperative complications, conversion rates, and cost.

Patients chosen to undergo LC for acute cholecystitis tended to be younger females. Patients treated with LC for acute or chronic cholecystitis on average had a shorter operating time and length of hospital stay when compared with patients treated with OC (P < 0.005 by ANOVA with Bonferroni). Conversion rates (CR) for all LC decreased considerably from the first to the fifth year: 9% in 1995 (10/103), 9% 1996 (22/232), 4% in 1997 (8/188), 2% in 1998 (5/226) and 2% in 1999 (5/193).

LC appears to be a reliable and cost-effective procedure for acute and chronic cholecystitis; however, the surgical approach should be chosen with caution because of the potential spectrum of technical difficulties. CR is also improving as surgeons' experience broadens.