This study compares two different timing approaches for gallbladder removal surgery in patients with acute gallbladder inflammation (acute cholecystitis). When someone develops acute cholecystitis, doctors need to remove the gallbladder using a minimally invasive technique called laparoscopic surgery. However, there is ongoing debate about the best timing for this surgery. Some doctors prefer to operate early (within 3 days of diagnosis), while others prefer to wait and operate later (after 4 weeks of medical treatment). In this study, we randomly assigned 166 patients with acute cholecystitis to receive either: * Early surgery: Laparoscopic gallbladder removal within 72 hours of diagnosis * Delayed surgery: Laparoscopic gallbladder removal after 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment All surgeries were performed by the same experienced surgeon using standard techniques. We measured how long each surgery took, how many days patients stayed in the hospital, and how often the surgeon needed to switch from the minimally invasive approach to open surgery. The study found that patients who had early surgery had shorter operation times, went home from the hospital sooner, and were less likely to need open surgery compared to patients who waited 4 weeks for their operation. This research helps doctors and patients make better decisions about the timing of gallbladder surgery when someone has acute cholecystitis.
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Operative Time
Timeframe: Intraoperatively (from anesthesia induction to closure of abdominal wall, assessed once during the surgery)