Increase in Acute Cholecystitis and Laparoscopic Resection after COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Single Center Experience
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery
Published on: February 10, 2023
Mineto Ohta1,2, Rikiya Kanba1,2, Masataka Kudo1
1Department of General Medicine, Osaki Citizen Hospital.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a rise in acute cholecystitis surgeries, with more laparoscopic procedures and shorter hospital stays post-pandemic. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an effective treatment strategy.
Area of Science:
- General Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted surgical interventions globally.
- Restrictions during the pandemic may have influenced the presentation and management of surgical conditions like acute cholecystitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare perioperative outcomes for acute cholecystitis surgeries before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To analyze trends in surgical management and patient outcomes for acute cholecystitis in the post-pandemic era.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 246 cholecystectomy cases between June 2017 and November 2022.
- Comparison of demographic and perioperative data pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic onset.
- Focus on changes in surgical approach and patient recovery metrics.
Main Results:
- A notable increase in acute cholecystitis surgeries was observed post-pandemic (174 cases) compared to pre-pandemic (72 cases).
- The proportion of laparoscopic cholecystectomies increased, particularly for mild and moderate cases.
- Postoperative hospital stays showed a significant decrease in the post-pandemic period.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a potential increase in acute cholecystitis incidence coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, when feasible, is an effective treatment strategy during pandemic periods.
- The study highlights adaptive changes in surgical practice for acute cholecystitis management.
Abstract:
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as viral pandemic in the year 2019 and surgical intervention was forced to be restricted during the pandemic. This study aims to compare the perioperative outcomes of surgeries for acute cholecystitis in the period following the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the demographic and perioperative data of 246 cholecystectomy cases performed between June 2017 and November 2022. This analysis focused on comparing patient background and perioperative outcomes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, prior to the pandemic, 72 emergency surgeries for acute cholecystitis were performed, compared with 174 cases following the COVID-19 pandemic onset. This increase, particularly in mild and moderate acute cholecystitis cases, led to a significant rise in the proportion of laparoscopic resections and a concurrent decrease in postoperative hospital stays. Our findings suggest a potential increase in acute cholecystitis cases at our hospital coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, when feasible within the medical system's capacity, can be an effective treatment strategy during the pandemic.
