Complications Of Early Cholecystectomy In Patients With Acute Biliary Pancreatitis: A Descriptive Case Series

Abstract

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures and is associated with a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality. The timing of cholecystectomy in acute biliary pancreatitis remains debated. This study determined the frequency of complications of early cholecystectomy in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis. Methods: A descriptive case series was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, SKBZ / CMH Muzaffarabad, from 15 August 2022 to 15 February 2023. Consecutive patients aged 25–70 years with mild acute biliary pancreatitis who underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (within 72 hours) were followed until discharge. Complications were defined as sepsis with positive bacterial growth, re-hospitalisation or biliary leakage. Data were analysed in SPSS 23; the chi-square test was applied after stratification (p ≤ 0.05). Results: Of 125 patients, 78 (62.4%) were female and 47 (37.6%) male; mean age was 37.86 ± 8.62 years. Diabetes was present in 33 (26.4%), hypertension in 55 (44.0%) and obesity in 32 (25.6%) patients. Mean duration of surgery was 64.53 ± 12.48 minutes and mean hospital stay 4.23 ± 2.11 days. Complications occurred in 24 patients (19.2%). They were significantly associated with male gender (p = 0.001), age above 50 years (p = 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.001) and hypertension (p = 0.001), but not with residence (p = 0.192), obesity (p = 0.940) or socioeconomic status (p = 0.130). Conclusion: The frequency of complications of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute biliary pancreatitis was low (19.2%), and the procedure was safe, reliable and effective in this series.