Is laparoscopic cholecystectomy treatmen1 of choice in acute cholecystitis?

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the role of early laparoscopic surgical intervention in acute cholecystitis in our setting. Descriptive study. At Hamdard University Hospital and some other private hospitals of Karachi from July 1998 till July 2005. All cases of acute cholecystitis admitted under our care at Hamdard University Hospital and some other private Hospitals of Karachi were included in this study. The data collected through review of files for presenting symptoms and signs, biochemical findings and histopathology of resected gall bladder specimen. Those cases who had known history of cholelithiasis and had a recurrent attacks we also included in this study. Those patients who had clinical jaundice, ultrasound examination suggestive of dilated common bile duct [CBD], impacted stone in CBD, empyema gall bladder on ultrasound with swinging pyrexia were excluded from the study. There were 516 cases of acute cholecystitis with the age range of 16 to 80 years. All cases were operated within 24 to 48 hours after admission. Our conversion rate was 6.4% with the mean operating time of 55 minutes. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective procedure in acute cholecystitis in experienced hands