Optimum timing of emergency cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in England: population-based cohort study

Cholecystectomy on index admission for acute cholecystitis is associated with improved patient outcomes. The timing of intervention is mainly driven by service provision. This population-based cohort study aimed to evaluate timing of emergency cholecystectomy in England.

Data from all consecutive patients undergoing surgery for acute cholecystitis on index admission in England from 1997 to 2012 were captured from the Hospital Episodes Statistics database. Data were analysed based on whether patients underwent surgery 0-3 days, 4-7 days or ≥ 8 days from admission. Outcome measures were rate of post-operative biliary complications, conversion to open and length of stay.

Forty-three thousand eight hundred and seventy patients underwent emergency cholecystectomy. 64.6% of patients underwent surgery between days 0 and 3 of admission, 24.3% between days 4-7 and 11.0% had surgery after day 8. Patients undergoing early surgery had significantly reduced rates of intra-operative laparoscopic conversion to open (0-3 days: 3.6%; 4-7 days: 4.0%; ≥ 8 days 4.7%, p = 0.001), post-operative ERCP (0-3 days: 1.1%; 4-7 days: 1.5%; ≥ 8 days 1.9%, p < 0.001) and bile duct injury (0-3 days: 0.6%; 4-7 days: 1.0%; ≥ 8 days 1.8%, p < 0.001). Early cholecystectomy was also associated with a shorter post-operative length of stay (LOS) [0-3 days group: median post-operative LOS 3 days (IQR: 1-6); 4-7 days group: 3 days (IQR 2-6); ≥ 8 days group: 4 days (IQR 2-9) (p < 0.001)]. High-volume centres undertook a significantly greater proportion of cholecystectomies within 3 days of presentation (high-volume: 67.3%; medium-volume: 64.8%; low-volume: 61.2%). In multivariate analysis greater time to surgery was independently associated with increased risk of post-operative ERCP and bile duct injury.

Early cholecystectomy within 3 days of admission reduces intra-operative conversion, post-operative biliary complications and length of stay. Centres undertaking the greatest numbers of emergency cholecystectomies perform a larger proportion within 3 days of admission.