[Surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis. Results of an early intervention protocol]

A prospective study of 425 patients operated for gallstones was undertaken in order to assess the applicability of a protocol including early surgery in acute cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis (AC) was present in 119 patients who had 123 episodes of AC (28%). Of 114 patients diagnosed as having AC, 103 were operated on before 72 h and the remaining before 7 days. There were no significant differences between the AC series and that of 306 patients who underwent an elective operation, in regard to morbidity, mortality or length of hospitalization. Early cholecystectomy can be recommended for the treatment of AC as its results are comparable to those of elective surgery.