A comparative Study between the Emergency Cholecystectomy and Early Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis

Chang, Tae Soo; Choi, Young Cheol; Kang, Tae Wook

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recent reports have recommended early cholecystectomy under antibiotic prophylaxis as the management for the patients with acute cholecystitis, since it has been superior to delayed surgery in severa1 prospective trials. The present randomized study was undertaken to elucidate the applicability of emergency surgery for acute cholecystitis comparing with early surgery.
METHODS
The present study was carried out for two groups of patients who were treated in the Department of surgery, Masan Samsung Hospital, between January 1993 and December 1996 The group I (n=80) included patients who were treated by emergency cholecystectomy while th group II (n=70) included patients who were managed by early cholecystectomy,
RESULTS
There wa no difference in the incidence of technical difficulty measured by complications and duration of operations between the two groups. There was no mortality in both groups. Postoperative morbidit was 8.8% in the emergency group and 7.1% in the early surgery group (p>0.05). In addition emergency surgery reduced the total hospital stay by average 5.2 days.
CONCLUSIONS
We recommend emergency cholecystectomy during the acute stage of cholecystitis because as it is safe, effective and economical when it is provided by an experienced surgeon.