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Perioperative antibiotics for mild or moderate acute cholecystitis - A systematic review and meta-analysis
Patrick Uhrenholdt Dalgaard Jensen1, Felix Graabæk1, Mai-Britt Tolstrup2
1Department of Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital - North Zealand, Hillerød, Denmark.
Background:
The need for antibiotics in mild-moderate cholecystitis is not known. This systematic review and meta-analysis determines the impact of perioperative antibiotics on postoperative infectious complications in patients with mild-moderate acute cholecystitis undergoing acute cholecystectomy.
Methods:
Electronic searches were performed in EMBASE, Pubmed, and CENTRAL. Random effects meta-analyses were performed.
Results:
Meta-analysis of infectious complications with 9% (84/889) in intervention group, 12% (106/895) in control group, and no significant effects of antibiotics (8 studies, odds ratio (OR) = 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) = [0.58; 1.07], I2 = 0%). Surgical site infections with 5% (28/521) in intervention group, 8% (42/521) in control group, and no significant effects of antibiotics (4 studies, OR = 0.72, CI[0.38; 1.38], I2 = 26%). Length of stay and mortality without significant differences. Trial sequential analysis with futility thresholds reached.
Conclusion:
Antibiotics in mild-moderate acute cholecystitis do not reduce postoperative infections. Current evidence supports omitting antibiotics in the otherwise healthy patients. Further studies of high-risk patients are needed.
Insights
Perioperative antibiotics do not reduce postoperative infections in mild-moderate acute cholecystitis. Current evidence supports omitting antibiotics for otherwise healthy patients undergoing cholecystectomy.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The role of perioperative antibiotics in mild-moderate acute cholecystitis remains unclear.
- This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes the impact of antibiotics on postoperative infectious complications in patients undergoing cholecystectomy for mild-moderate acute cholecystitis.
Conclusions:
- Perioperative antibiotics do not appear to reduce postoperative infections in patients with mild-moderate acute cholecystitis.
- Current evidence suggests omitting antibiotics in otherwise healthy patients undergoing cholecystectomy for this condition.
- Further research is warranted to investigate the use of antibiotics in high-risk patient populations.
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