Publication:

Early versus late laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute biliary pancreatitis: a prospective randomised study

Background In patients with acute biliary pancreatitis, cholecystectomy is mandatory to prevent further biliary events, but the precise timing of cholecystectomy for mild to moderate disease remain a subject of ongoing debate. The aim of this study is to assess the outcomes of early versus delayed cholecystectomy. We hypothesize that early cholecystectomy as compared to delayed cholecystectomy reduces recurrent biliary events without a higher peri-operative complication rate.

Methods Patients with mild to moderate ABP were prospectively randomized to either an early cholecystectomy versus a delayed cholecystectomy group. Recurrent biliary events, peri-operative complications, conversion rate, length of surgery and total hospital length of stay between the two groups were evaluated.

Results A total of 70 patients were enrolled at tertiary care hospital in central India. Of them, 35were randomized to the early group and 35 patients to the delayed group using simple randomization technique.

Conclusions In mild to moderate ABP, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces the risk of recurrent biliary events without an increase in operative difficulty or perioperative morbidity.