TH2.2 Optimum Timing of Emergency Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis - A Single Sited Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Abstract Aim To evaluate timing of emergency cholecystectomy performed at one of the hospital in West Midlands. Methods This is a retrospective single centre study conducted from September 2019 to August 2020. The patients were divided into two groups with those operated within 1 week as emergency group (EG) and those operated after a week but within 6 weeks as delayed group(DG). The outcome is to evaluate post-operative complications, conversion to open, re-admissions, hospital stay, intra-operative blood loss, surgery duration and level of surgeons. Results Among 176 patients, only 88 patients underwent LC. Only 40.9% (36) underwent LC within 1 week of index admission and 12.5% (11) underwent LC after 1 week but within 6 weeks of admission. The remaining 46.5% (41) underwent delayed LC after 6 weeks. 10.6% (5) developed post op complications. Among which only one developed complication in EG and 8.5% (4) developed in DG. Total number of readmissions after LC in both group was 5.5% (5) and 10.2% (9) respectively. Median Length of hospital stay in days (4.03 versus 8.72 days respectively), Duration of surgery was 81(23–153) mins versus 69 (28–122) mins respectively), Intra operative blood loss (64 ml versus 166 ml respectively). Level of surgeon by consultant and Registrar in both groups were 21:6 and 15:5 respectively. None of the patients were converted to open surgery in both group. Conclusion Early LC within 1 week can be performed safely in most patients with AC to minimise the intra-operative blood loss, total hospital stay, post-op complication and readmissions rate.