Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and safe in acute cholecystitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.


METHODS
Between June 1993 and December 1996, 424 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy; 45 (10.6%) had acute cholecystitis confirmed by ultrasound.


RESULTS
All 45 patients were opened within 72 hours of admission. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was necessary in three patients (6.7%). The mean operating time was 126 minutes (range: 40-300 minutes). There was no mortality or common bile duct injury in this series. The postoperative stay averaged 3.9 days (range: I to 11 days). There was no delayed morbidity after a mean follow-up of 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is feasible and safe in patients with acute cholecystitis, provided it is performed by experienced surgeons. Although the procedure is somewhat lengthy, it is associated with low conversion rate, no serious morbidity and zero mortality.
Al-Mulhim
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Department of Surgery, King Fahd Hospital of the University, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.