An Update on Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Acute Calculus Cholecystitis: Review Article

Acute calculus cholecystitis is the most common complication of gallstone disease, and it is managed with conservative treatment with intravenous antibiotics followed by delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is performed in 8 to 12 weeks. The Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholecystitis of 2013 and 2018 have recommended delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with grade 3 acute cholecystitis, while for patients with grade 1 and 2, an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended. Patients with severe acute cholecystitis who have undergone percutaneous cholecystostomy will usually undergo a delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy once their condition has stabilized. In this review, we will investigate the role of delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy and compare it with early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We will also look at the role of delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy following percutaneous cholecystostomy.