title: Timing of Cholecystectomy for Biliary Pancreatitis in Chinese Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine the most feasible and cost-effective time of cholecystectomy following gallstone pancreatitis in Chinese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 233 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for biliary pancreatitis (January 2004 to July 2012) were categorized into one of 2 groups: group A patients underwent cholecystectomy during admission (n=123), and group B patients delayed cholecystectomy after discharge from admission (n=110).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The groups were comparable in demographics, comorbidities, and disease severity. In total, 100% of patients in group A had a cholecystectomy within 3 weeks after admission, and 60.9% of patients in group B experienced precholecystectomy gallstone-related events (including 15 cases of recurrent pancreatitis) after discharge. The median total length of hospital stay was greater for group B than for group A [12 d (range, 4 to 24 d) vs. 17 d (range, 9 to 39 d), respectively, P=0.000]. The average cost of management was greater in group B than group A [23,036.11 Yuan (range, 9073.53 to 85,132.33 Yuan) vs. 36,643.27 Yuan (range, 14,096.36 to 69,642.02 Yuan), respectively, P=0.000].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Chinese patients, cholecystectomy should be performed within 3 weeks after admission without delay, and is feasible and cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin †Chinese PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing ‡Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Haicheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Mingfang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sanyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000639:trends; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult