Should acute cholecystitis be operated in the 24 h following symptom onset? A retrospective cohort study

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard for management of acute cholecystitis (AC). Nevertheless, the definition used for early phase remained unclear. We aimed to compare the clinical outcome and cost of immediate (patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 h following symptom onset) versus early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (patients managed 25-72 h following symptom onset) for acute cholecystitis.

A retrospective analysis was performed. The outcomes of 143 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 h (ICG) were compared to 350 patients managed 25-72 h following symptom onset (ECG) for acute cholecystitis.

There were significantly more diabetic patients in the early laparoscopic group (ECG). All other characteristics were comparable (demographic, clinical, biologic and ultrasonographic characteristics) between the two groups. The rate of conversion to open surgery was significantly higher in the ECG. Overall postoperative morbidity and specific morbidity did not differ significantly between the groups. Total hospital stay was longer in the ECG. Direct medical costs were higher in the ECG.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, for acute cholecystitis, during the first 24 h of onset of symptoms, significantly reduced conversion to open surgery and total hospital stay without increasing postoperative complications.