Abstract
Background
This study was performed to compare the safety and effectiveness of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) for acute cholecystitis (AC).
Methods
A systematic search was performed of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov from 1 August 1990 to 1 April 2018. Randomized controlled trials comparing ELC versus DLC were included. The primary outcome was bile duct injury (BDI) and bile leakage. The secondary outcomes were wound infection, total complications, conversion to open surgery, operation time, and total hospital stay. The statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.3 software (Cochrane Informatics and Knowledge Management Department).
Results
Fifteen RCTs were included. A meta-analysis showed no significant differences between ELC and DLC in terms of BDI (risk ratio [RR] 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23–2.79; p = 0.72) (in all subgroups of surgery: within 7, 4, and 3 days) (p = 0.22, 0.49, 0.49, respectively) or bile leakage (RR 2.05; 95% CI 0.98–4.31; p = 0.06). No significant differences were found in the rate of wound infection (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.51–1.11; p = 0.15), total complications (RR 0.90; 95% CI 0.58–1.39; p = 0.63), or conversion to open surgery (RR 0.94; 95% CI 0.74–1.21; p = 0.64). There were no significant differences in the operation time between ELC and DLC (mean difference [MD] = 9.29 min; 95% CI − 0.41 to 18.98; p = 0.06), but ELC was associated with a longer surgery time within 7 days (MD = 16.49 min; 95% CI 2.10–30.88; p = 0.02). The pooled results showed that ELC was associated with a significantly shorter duration of hospital stay (MD = − 3.07 days; 95% CI − 3.98 to − 2.16; p < 0.00001), but with no significantly difference with postoperative hospital stay (MD = 0.45 days; 95% CI − 0.38 to 1.29; p = 0.29).
Conclusion
ELC appears as safe and effective as DLC for acute cholecystitis within 7 days from presentation and may shorten the total hospital stay.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
All the data used in the study can be obtained from the original articles.
References
Wiesen SM, Unger SW, Barkin JS, Edelman DS, Scott JS, Unger HM (1993) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: the procedure of choice for acute cholecystitis. Am J Gastroenterol 88:334–337
Livingston EH, Rege RV (2004) A nationwide study of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Am J Surg 188:205–211
Yamashita Y, Takada T, Hirata K (2006) A survey of the timing and approach to the surgical management of patients with acute cholecystitis in Japanese hospitals. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg 13:409–415
Cameron IC, Chadwick C, Phillips J, Johnson AG (2004) Management of acute cholecystitis in UK hospitals: time for a change. Postgrad Med J 80:292–294
Gurusamy KS, Koti R, Fusai G, Davidson BR (2013) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated biliary colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Cd007196
Johansson M, Thune A, Blomqvist A, Nelvin L, Lundell L (2003) Management of acute cholecystitis in the laparoscopic era: results of a prospective, randomized clinical trial. J Gastrointest Surg 7:642–645
Lau JY, Leow CK, Fung TM, Suen BY, Yu LM, Lai PB, Lam YH, Ng EK, Lau WY, Chung SS, Sung JJ (2006) Cholecystectomy or gallbladder in situ after endoscopic sphincterotomy and bile duct stone removal in Chinese patients. Gastroenterology 130:96–103
Gutt CN (2013) Acute cholecystitis: primarily conservative or operative approach? Zeitschrift fur alle Gebiete der operativen Medizen 84:185–190
Song GM, Bian W, Zeng XT, Zhou JG, Luo YQ, Tian X (2016) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: early or delayed?: evidence from a systematic review of discordant meta-analyses. Medicine (Baltimore) 95: e3835
Cao AM, Eslick GD, Cox MR (2016) Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is superior to delayed acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of case-control studies. Surg Endosc 30:1172–1182
Ohta M, Iwashita Y, Yada K, Ogawa T, Kai S, Ishio T, Shibata K, Matsumoto T, Bandoh T, Kitano S (2012) Operative timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in a Japanese institute. JSLS 16:65–70
Roulin D, Saadi A, Di Mare L, Demartines N, Halkic N (2016) Early versus delayed cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, are the 72 hours still the rule?: A randomized trial. Ann Surg 264:717–722
Rajcok M, Bak V, Danihel L, Kukucka M, Schnorrer M (2016) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in treatment of acute cholecystitis. Bratislavske lekarske listy 117:328–331
Higgins JP, Altman DG, Gotzsche PC, Juni P, Moher D, Oxman AD, Savovic J, Schulz KF, Weeks L, Sterne JA, Methods G (2011) The Cochrane collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ 343:d5928
Mare LD, Roulin AS,D, Demartines N, Halkic N (2012) Delayed versus early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a prospective randomized study. HPB 14::130
Faizi KS, Ahmed I, Ahmad H (2013) Comparison of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy: choosing the best. Pak J Medical Health Sci 7: 212–215
Lai PB, Kwong KH, Leung KL, Kwok SP, Chan AC, Chung SC, Lau WY (1998) Randomized trial of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Br J Surg 85:764–767
Lo CM, Liu CL, Fan ST, Lai EC, Wong J (1998) Prospective randomized study of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Ann Surg 227:461–467
Gul R, Dar RA, Sheikh RA, Salroo NA, Matoo AR, Wani SH (2013) Comparison of early and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: experience from a single center. N Am J Med Sci 5:414–418
Yadav RP, Adhikary S, Agrawal CS, Bhattarai B, Gupta RK, Ghimire A (2009) A comparative study of early vs. delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. Kathmandu Univ Med J 7:16–20
Macafee DA, Humes DJ, Bouliotis G, Beckingham IJ, Whynes DK, Lobo DN (2009) Prospective randomized trial using cost-utility analysis of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute gallbladder disease. Br J Surg 96:1031–1040
Ozkardes AB, Tokac M, Dumlu EG, Bozkurt B, Ciftci AB, Yetisir F, Kilic M (2014) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a prospective, randomized study. Int Surg 99:56–61
Chandler CF, Lane JS, Ferguson P, Thompson JE, Ashley SW (2000) Prospective evaluation of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for treatment of acute cholecystitis. Am Surg 66:896–900
Gutt CN, Encke J, Koninger J, Harnoss JC, Weigand K, Kipfmuller K, Schunter O, Gotze T, Golling MT, Menges M, Klar E, Feilhauer K, Zoller WG, Ridwelski K, Ackmann S, Baron A, Schon MR, Seitz HK, Daniel D, Stremmel W, Buchler MW (2013) Acute cholecystitis: early versus delayed cholecystectomy, a multicenter randomized trial (ACDC study, NCT00447304). Ann Surg 258:385–393
Kolla SB, Aggarwal S, Kumar A, Kumar R, Chumber S, Parshad R, Seenu V (2004) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc 18:1323–1327
Saber A, Hokkam EN (2014) Operative outcome and patient satisfaction in early and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Minim Invas Surg 2014:162643
Verma S, Agarwal PN, Bali RS, Singh R, Talwar N (2013) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a prospective randomized trial. ISRN Min Invas Surg 2013::3
Dávila DMC, Picho ML, Albors P, Cardenas F, Fuster E et al (1999) Experience in the treatment (early vs. delayed) of acute cholecystitis via laparoscopy. Cir Esp 66:233
Shaffer EA (2006) Gallstone disease: epidemiology of gallbladder stone disease. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 20:981–996
Senapati PS, Bhattarcharya D, Harinath G, Ammori BJ (2003) A survey of the timing and approach to the surgical management of cholelithiasis in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis in the UK. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 85:306–312
Lee AY, Carter JJ, Hochberg MS, Stone AM, Cohen SL, Pachter HL (2008) The timing of surgery for cholecystitis: a review of 202 consecutive patients at a large municipal hospital. Am J Surg 195:467–470
Sicklick JK, Camp MS, Lillemoe KD, Melton GB, Yeo CJ, Campbell KA, Talamini MA, Pitt HA, Coleman J, Sauter PA, Cameron JL (2005) Surgical management of bile duct injuries sustained during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: perioperative results in 200 patients. Ann Surg 241:786–792; (Discussion 793–785)
Club SS (1991) A prospective analysis of 1518 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. N Engl J Med 324:1073–1078
Bouras G, Burns EM, Howell AM, Bagnall NM, Lee H, Athanasiou T, Darzi A (2014) Systematic review of the impact of surgical harm on quality of life after general and gastrointestinal surgery. Ann Surg 260:975–983
Berci G, Hunter J, Morgenstern L, Arregui M, Brunt M, Carroll B, Edye M, Fermelia D, Ferzli G, Greene F, Petelin J, Phillips E, Ponsky J, Sax H, Schwaitzberg S, Soper N, Swanstrom L, Traverso W (2013) Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: first, do no harm; second, take care of bile duct stones. Surg Endosc 27:1051–1054
Pucher PH, Aggarwal R, Qurashi M, Darzi A (2014) Meta-analysis of the effect of postoperative in-hospital morbidity on long-term patient survival. Br J Surg 101:1499–1508
Tornqvist B, Zheng Z, Ye W, Waage A, Nilsson M (2009) Long-term effects of iatrogenic bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 7:1013–1018; (quiz 1915)
Soderlund C, Frozanpor F, Linder S (2005) Bile duct injuries at laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a single-institution prospective study. Acute cholecystitis indicates an increased risk. World J Surg 29:987–993
Shikata S, Noguchi Y, Fukui T (2005) Early versus delayed cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Surg Today 35:553–560
Lau H, Lo CY, Patil NG, Yuen WK (2006) Early versus delayed-interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a metaanalysis. Surg Endosc 20:82–87
Siddiqui T, MacDonald A, Chong PS, Jenkins JT (2008) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Am J Surg 195:40–47
Gurusamy K, Samraj K, Gluud C, Wilson E, Davidson BR (2010) Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the safety and effectiveness of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Br J Surg 97:141–150
Skouras C, Jarral O, Deshpande R, Zografos G, Habib N, Zacharakis E (2012) Is early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis preferable to delayed surgery? Best evidence topic (BET). Int J Surg 10:250–258
Zhou MW, Gu XD, Xiang JB, Chen ZY (2014) Comparison of clinical safety and outcomes of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis. Sci World J 2014:274516
Cao AM, Eslick GD, Cox MR (2015) Early cholecystectomy is superior to delayed cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis. J Gastrointest Surg 19:848–857
Zafar SN, Obirieze A, Adesibikan B, Cornwell EE III, Fullum TM, Tran DD (2015) Optimal time for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. JAMA Surg 150:129–136
Yamashita Y, Takada T, Strasberg SM, Pitt HA, Gouma DJ, Garden OJ, Buchler MW, Gomi H, Dervenis C, Windsor JA, Kim SW, de Santibanes E, Padbury R, Chen XP, Chan AC, Fan ST, Jagannath P, Mayumi T, Yoshida M, Miura F, Tsuyuguchi T, Itoi T, Supe AN (2013) TG13 surgical management of acute cholecystitis. J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Sci 20:89–96
Banz V, Gsponer T, Candinas D, Guller U (2011) Population-based analysis of 4113 patients with acute cholecystitis: defining the optimal time-point for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Ann Surg 254:964–970
Degrate L, Ciravegna AL, Luperto M, Guaglio M, Garancini M, Maternini M, Giordano L, Romano F, Gianotti L, Uggeri F (2013) Acute cholecystitis: the golden 72-h period is not a strict limit to perform early cholecystectomy. Results from 316 consecutive patients. Langenbecks Arch Surg 398:1129–1136
Gomes RM, Mehta NT, Varik V, Doctor NH (2013) No 72-hour pathological boundary for safe early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis: a clinicopathological study. Ann Gastroenterol 26:340–345
Zhu B, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Gong K, Lu Y, Zhang N (2012) Comparison of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis within and beyond 72 h of symptom onset during emergency admissions. World J Surg 36:2654–2658
Rattner DW, Ferguson C, Warshaw AL (1993) Factors associated with successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Ann Surg 217:233–236
Gurusamy KS, Davidson C, Gluud C, Davidson BR (2013) Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for people with acute cholecystitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev Cd005440
Acknowledgements
We thank Angela Morben, DVM, ELS, from Liwen Bianji, Edanz Editing China (http://www.liwenbianji.cn/ac), for editing the English text of a draft of this manuscript.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Disclosures
Yunxiao Lyu, Yunxiao Cheng, Bin Wang, Sicong Zhao, Liang Chen have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lyu, Y., Cheng, Y., Wang, B. et al. Early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: an up-to-date meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Surg Endosc 32, 4728–4741 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6400-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6400-0