Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis seems safe and shortens the total hospital stay .
BACKGROUND Gallstones are present in about 10 % to 15 % of the adult western population .
Between 1 % and 4 % become symptomatic in a year .
Cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones is mainly performed after the acute cholecystitis episode settles because of the fear of higher morbidity and conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis .
OBJECTIVES The aim was to compare the early laparoscopic cholecystectomy ( less than seven days of onset of symptoms ) versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy ( more than six weeks after index admission ) with regards to benefits and harms .
Methods for combining randomized clinical trials: strengths and limitations.
Methods for combining data from several studies exist and appear to be quite useful . None satisfactorily addresses the question of what studies should be combined . This issue is the most serious method ological limitation . Even studies with statistically significant interaction might still be combined if the effect were in the same direction . Thus , substantial scientific input is required as to what criteria must be met by each potential study . Much can be learned from combining or pooling data but it must be done cautiously . Pooling exercises do not replace well design ed prospect i ve clinical trials . Efforts for establishing basic design criteria to allow for multicentre and multicountry trials to be more easily combined might be useful .
Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis seems safe and shortens the total hospital stay .
BACKGROUND Gallstones are present in about 10 % to 15 % of the adult western population .
Between 1 % and 4 % become symptomatic in a year .
Cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones is mainly performed after the acute cholecystitis episode settles because of the fear of higher morbidity and conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis .
OBJECTIVES The aim was to compare the early laparoscopic cholecystectomy ( less than seven days of onset of symptoms ) versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy ( more than six weeks after index admission ) with regards to benefits and harms .