Interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy: What is the best timing for surgery?

Background: The timing of interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy continues to be a matter of debate. Objectives: To evaluate the best timing for performing this procedure after an episode of acute cholecystitis. Methods: In this retrospective analysis, we divided 213 patients into three groups based on the time that elapsed from an episode of acute cholecystitis to surgery: Group I: 1–6 weeks, Group II: 6–12 weeks, Group III: > 12 weeks. Results: The mean operative time ranged from 51 to 59 minutes, complication rate 2.6%–5.9%, conversion rate 2.6%–10.8%, length of hospitalization 1.55–2.2 days, and the 30 day readmission rate 2.7%–7.9%. There were no statistically significant differences between the study groups in the primary outcome parameters. Conclusions: Due to the lack of statistically significant differences between the groups, interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely and without increasing the complication rate within 6 weeks after the acute episode as well as 12 weeks after. However, a trend towards higher conversion and complication rates was observed in Group II (6–12 weeks).