Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; early vs delayed acute cholecystitis

ABSTRACT

The role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in treatment of acute cholecystitis is still controversial. The objective of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the outcomes of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis and to compare the results with delayed cholecystectomy. Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. 1[st] Feb, 2012 to 31[st] July 2012. 60 diagnosed patients of acute cholecystitis were randomly allocated to two groups, Group 1 underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy [Group 1, n = 30] and Group 2 to initial conservative treatment followed by delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 6 to 12 weeks later [Group 2, n = 30]. The overall complication rate was 3.3% [01] in early group and 16.7% [05] in the delayed group. There was no common bile duct injury in both groups. The complications included wound infection and intraperitoneal collection. According to the results our study we concluded that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy can safely be carried out for acute cholecystitis as the complications for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy are less as compared to delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy has also an edge over delayed because of single hospital stay