RESUMO
PURPOSE: Complicated acute cholecystitis (AC) such as empyema or gangrene portends increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate risk factors that contribute to the development of complicated AC and to evaluate the outcome of Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for complicated AC. METHODS: A total of 326 patients who underwent LC for AC between March 1997 and June 2002, were retrospectively reviewed. The risk factors associated with the development of complicated AC was investigated. The outcome of LC was compared between complicated AC (group A) and uncomplicated AC (group B). RESULTS: 87 patients (26.7%) developed complicated AC and the others 239 patients (73.3%) was in uncomplicated AC. On multivariate analysis, male gender (odds ratio; 1.76 P=0.029) and old age (odds ratio; 2.24 P=0.004) were predictive risk factors for complicated AC. The mean operation time in group A (111.2+/-44.9 min) was longer compared to group B (95.3+/-44.2 min)(P or =60) are risk factors associated with complicated AC. Outcome of LC in complicated AC was not significantly different from that of uncomplicated AC in terms of safety and feasibility.