Propensity score-matching analysis of the efficacy of late cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Background: Urgent cholecystectomy within 72 h from symptom onset is recommended. We assessed the feasibility of performing late cholecystectomy (4-7 days from symptom onset) for acute cholecystitis. Methods: One hundred sixty-four patients with grades 1 and 2 cholecystitis, who underwent urgent cholecystectomy within 7 days from symptom onset between June 2011 and June 2015 were enrolled. One hundred thirteen patients underwent operation within 72 h from symptom onset (early operation group), and 51 underwent operation between 4 and 7 days (late operation group). Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were analyzed using propensity score-matching analysis. Results: The rate of conversion, intraoperative bleeding, and complications were comparable between the groups. After a one-to-two propensity score-matched analysis was performed, outcomes of the late operation group were not inferior to those of the early operation group. Conclusion: Late cholecystectomy was acceptable for treating grades 1 and 2 acute cholecystitis. (c) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.