title: Safety of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy: a single-institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Early cholecystectomy is recommended for patients with acute cholecystitis, particularly when less than 72 hours have passed since symptom onset. The safety of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients receiving anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents is unclear. We retrospectively analyzed the safety of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2005 and 2012, a total of 239 patients were diagnosed with acute cholecystitis, 183 of whom underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We compared the clinical features and surgical outcomes of 21 patients undergoing antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy with those of 162 patients not undergoing antiplatelet or anticoagulation therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 21 patients, 15 patients took aspirin and four took clopidogrel sulfate. Three patients received dual therapy with two agents. The distributions of the severity of acute cholecystitis, a past history of abdominal operations, body mass index, blood test results, operation time, and blood loss were not significant between the two groups. Neither conversion to open surgery nor bleeding-related complications occurred in the patients undergoing antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for selected patients with acute cholecystitis undergoing antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy is feasible and safe.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noda
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatano
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dono
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Kazuteru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanida
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyake
authors.forename: Takamichi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komori
authors.forename: Kenshu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawanishi
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwazawa
authors.forename: Kenzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akagi
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kitada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects; D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors