Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Inflammation of the Gallbladder

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute inflammation of the gallbladder is safe and is associated with a significantly shorter postoperative stay compared to open surgery. A greater number of patients required conversion to open operation compared to those with no obvious inflammation. Conversion to open operation was most frequent for empyema and gangrenous cholecystitis, suggesting that once this diagnosis is made, excessive time should not be spent in laparoscopic trial dissection before converting to an open operation.