Role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the early management of acute gallbladder disease

Background: This study evaluated the role of laparoscopic surgery in the early management of acute gallbladder disease in a single large UK teaching hospital. Methods: Details of all emergency admissions for acute gallbladder disease from January 2000 to December 2001 were identified and additional information from the hospital records was reviewed retrospectively. Results: Three hundred and eighty-five patients with gallstone disease (243 acute biliary pain, 142 acute cholecystitis) and 15 with acalculous disease were identified. The conversion rate was higher during early laparoscopic surgery for acute calculous cholecystitis than in operations for acute biliary pain (19 versus 4 per cent; P = 0.002). In patients with acute calculous cholecystitis the conversion rate was significantly lower in operations within 48 h of admission (one of 26) than when surgery was delayed beyond 48 h (14 of 52) or subsequently carried out electively (seven of 21) (P = 0.014). Elective surgery for previous acute cholecystitis was associated with a higher conversion rate (seven of 21 patients) than elective surgery for biliary pain (three of 65) (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis should be performed, where possible, within the first 48 h of admission.