Acute Cholecystitis

New findings from National Taiwan University in the area of cholecystitis published

"Records of all patients admitted for acute cholecystitis in whom laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted between January 2004 and January 2006, at National Taiwan University Hospital were reviewed. A total of 89 patients were recruited to the study. Of these, 56 patients received early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC), and 33 patients received delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) following conservative therapy. There were no intergroup differences in age, gender, or days of symptoms prior to presentation. Patients undergoing ELC experienced a significantly longer operation time (109 +/- 37.59 minutes versus 77 +/- 25.65 minutes, p<0.001), more blood loss (76ml versus 28ml, p=0.006) and a longer post-operation hospital stay (4.5 days versus 2.6 days, p<0.001). The conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was not significantly different (4/56 versus 2/33, p=0.84), and there were no biliary tract injury or other major complications in either group. However, patients with ELC had a shorter total hospital stay (4.53 days versus 7.79 days, p<0.001) and fewer admission times (1 time in ELC versus 2.4 times in DLC, p<0.001). Both early and delayed LC appears to be effective and safe in the treatment of acute cholecystitis. Early LC may be more technically demanding and time-consuming, and may be associated with a higher rate of wound infections; however, it also tends to shorten the total length of hospital stay and reduce the risk of repeat cholecystitis," wrote T.C. Chang and colleagues, National Taiwan University.

The researchers concluded: "We recommend early LC for acute cholecystitis comparison with delayed LC."

Chang and colleagues published their study in Hepato - Gastroenterology (Evaluation of Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in the Treatment of Acute Cholecystitis. Hepato - Gastroenterology, 2009;56(89):26-28).

Additional information can be obtained by contacting P.H. Lee, National Taiwan University, Dept. of Surgery, 7 Chung Shan S Rd., Taipei 100, Taiwan.

The publisher of the journal Hepato - Gastroenterology can be contacted at: H G E Update Medical Publishing S a, PO Box 17257, Athens GR-10024, Greece.

Keywords: Taiwan, Taipei, Acute Cholecystitis, Cholecystitis, Clinical Trials, Gastroenterology, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopy, Post-Trials Research, Surgery, Therapy, Treatment, National Taiwan University.

This article was prepared by Biotech Business Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Business Week via NewsRx.com.