[Postoperative benefit after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis]

Analysed were the results of all 48 patients with acute cholecystitis, who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy between 1991 and 1995 in the department of general surgery, AKH, University of Vienna. In 18 cases it was necessary to convert to laparotomy. In a second step the results of these two groups of patients were compared with results of patients without acute cholecystitis, who elective underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In about 2/3 of the patients with acute cholecystitis laparoscopic cholecystectomy is possible. In these cases we found a mean postoperative hospital stay of 4.4 days, with a significant difference between those with drain (5.9 days) and those without (2.7 days). In cases of laparotomy the mean postoperative stay was 7.7 days, also significant longer. These patients consumed at the first postoperative day more than 1.5 times of opioid analgetics than those, who underwent laparoscopy with acute cholecystitis, laparoscopied patients without acute cholecystitis half of this. After the second postoperative day patients after laparotomy took 3 times of opioid analgetics than patients after laparoscopy, no matter if there was an acute cholecystitis or not. The rate of conversion to laparotomy sank with the increase of experience of a surgeon. Postoperative benefit of laparoscopic treatment, as less pain and shorter hospitalisation, can be saved even in cases of acute cholecystitis. So the management should primary be laparoscopic.