Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Versus Open Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis: A Literature Review

Cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure performed worldwide for acute cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis occurs when the cystic duct is obstructed by a gallstone, which causes gallbladder distension and subsequent inflammation of the gallbladder. Acute cholecystitis is characterized by pain in the right upper quadrant, anorexia, nausea, fever, and vomiting. Cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for acute cholecystitis. The two commonly performed types of cholecystectomies are open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, the approach of choice widely fluctuates with regard to various factors such as patient history and surgeon preference. It is imperative to understand the variations in outcomes of different approaches and how best they fit an individual patient when deciding the technique to be undertaken. This article reviews several studies and compares the two techniques in terms of procedure, mortality rate, complication rate, bile leak/injury rate, conversion rate, and bleeding rate.