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 .
A survey of the timing and approach to the surgical management of cholelithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis in the UK.
BACKGROUND Recent management guidelines and r and omised clinical trials have provided evidence -based guidance to the management of acute  biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis . METHODS A question naire was sent to the 1086 members of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Irel and . There were 583 responders ( 54 % ) . RESULTS A policy of cholecystectomy during the index admission or within 4 weeks in fit patients recovering from mild acute biliary pancreatitis was adopted by 58 % of surgeons , and was significantly associated with an upper gastrointestinal and hepato-pancreato-biliary subspecialty interest and a volume of more than 50 cholecystectomies per annum ( OR , 0.43 ; 95 % CI , 0.26 - 0.72 ; P = 0.001 : and OR , 0.46 ; 95 % CI , 0.29 - 0.74 ; P = 0.001 , respectively ) . A policy of urgent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was adopted by 20 % of surgeons , and was significantly associated with an upper gastrointestinal/hepato-pancreato-biliary subspecialty interest and the ' routine ' adoption of laparoscopic approach to  cholecystectomy  ( OR , 0.34 ; 95 % CI , 0.19 - 0.60 ; P < 0.001 : and OR , 0.51 ; 95 % CI , 0.3 - 0.86 ; P = 0.01 , respectively ) . CONCLUSIONS The management of cholelithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis in the UK remains suboptimal . Moreover , only a minority of surgeons offer patients presenting with acute cholecystitis the benefits of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy . The management of acute biliary disease may be improved if these cases were concentrated in the h and s of surgeons with upper gastrointestinal/hepato-pancreato-biliary interest and those who perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy regularly
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 .