Acute cholecystitis is an indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE

Acute cholecystitis has been considered as a relative or absolute contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The purpose of this study is to present our experience of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a safe and effective treatment of acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was offered to 34 consecutive patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, diagnosed according to strict clinical and ultrasonographic criteria. We used only three trocars. The gallbladder was routinely aspirated and sharp graspers were used. We adopted the fundus-first method of dissection when safe identification of the Calot's triangle was difficult. The cystic duct was ligated whenever necessary.

RESULTS

The procedure was completed in 31 patients. The mean length of the laparoscopic procedure was 43 minutes, their mean hospital stay was 2.8 days. For the open group the mean length of the operative procedure was 66 minutes, while the mean hospital stay was 5.3 days. The overall morbidity rate was low.

CONCLUSIONS

The benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely extended to patients with acute cholecystitis. The operation must be done early in the course of the disease. The surgeon should have adequate laparoscopic experience and maintain a low threshold for conversion to open exploration. Modifications in technique should be adopted to achieve a successful outcome.