Zafar Aziz Khan, A R Bhutta, Z A Khan.
Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Biliary Symptoms: Is it worth it?.
Pak J Surg Jan ;16(3):19-23.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has become the standard surgical treatment for the elective management of gallbladder disease in Pakistan and elsewhere. Objective: To ascertain the appropriateness of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute billary symptoms as little and variable information exists. Setting: A 50-bedded referral acute care unit in a major teaching hospital. Patients: Seventy-five patients were admitted as emergency with acute abdominal pain, fever and / or leukocytosis. There were 58 females and 17 males.

Results: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted in all patients within 48 hours of admission and was successful in 67 of 75 cases. Eight cases required conversion to the open procedure, giving a conversion rate of 11%. Patients requiring conversion were older, predominantly males and febrile.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be a safe and beneficial option in the majority of patients with acute biliary symptoms, although there is a higher incidence of conversion to the open procedure.

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