A Comparative Observational Study of Laparoscopic Interval Cholecystectomy & Laparoscopic Early Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis

Authors

  • Vinod N. Rathod Professor, Department of General Surgery, Government Medical College & General Hospital, Washim, Maharashtra, India Author
  • Mahendra Bhagat Third Year, Junior Resident, Department of General Surgery, Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College & Hospital, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India Author
  • Sameer Rathod Assistant Professor, Department of General Surgery, Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College & Hospital, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, India Author

Keywords:

Acute cholecystitis; Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

Introduction: The Acute calculous cholecystitis is a common surgical emergency, and the optimal timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains debated.

Aim & Objective: This study compared to the clinical outcomes, intraoperative complications, conversion rates, and total hospital stay between early and interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Material & methods: A prospective comparative observational study was conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Maharashtra. Fifty eligible patients with the acute calculous cholecystitis were consecutively enrolled, with 25 undergoing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the index admission and 25 undergoing interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy after 4–6 weeks of conservative management. The Demographic, clinical, operative, and postoperative outcomes were recorded and statistically compared.

Results: The two groups were comparable regarding baseline characteristics and disease severity. Mean operative time was 72.4 ± 15.6 minutes in the early group and 66.1 ± 13.2 minutes in the interval group (p=0.11). Intraoperative complications occurred in 28.0% and 20.0%, respectively (p=0.51). Conversion to open surgery was required in 12.0% of early and 8.0% of interval cases (p=0.64). Postoperative complications were comparable (24.0% vs. 16.0%; p=0.48), as were postoperative hospital stay (3.6 ± 1.2 vs. 3.1 ± 0.9 days; p=0.10). However, total hospital stay was significantly shorter with early surgery (5.6 ± 1.8 vs. 9.8 ± 2.4 days; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy was safe and feasible, with outcomes comparable to interval surgery regarding operative time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and conversion to open surgery. Importantly, early surgery significantly reduced total hospital stay by approximately four days. These findings support early laparoscopic cholecystectomy as the preferred approach in suitable patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, improving healthcare efficiency without compromising safety.

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Published

2026-09-17

Issue

Vol. 3 No. Issue 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

A Comparative Observational Study of Laparoscopic Interval Cholecystectomy & Laparoscopic Early Cholecystectomy in Acute Cholecystitis. (2026). Journal of Surgical Research and Reviews (ISSN: 3041-4857) , 3(Issue 1), 1-9. https://internationalmedicalpublishing.com/index.php/JSRR/article/view/329