Routine early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis after conclusion of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective review was to assess the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis since the conclusion of a randomized controlled trial in 1997. METHODS: Records of all patients admitted for acute cholecystitis in whom early laparoscopic cholecystectomy was attempted between July 1997 and December 2004 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients were recruited to this study. Forty-three surgeons performed the procedures. The conversion rate increased significantly in the early period after the trial from 21 per cent to 42 per cent (39 of 92 patients) and decreased significantly to 24 per cent (13 of 54 patients) in the later period. The proportion of operations performed by higher surgical trainees increased significantly from 17 per cent in the early period to 56 per cent in the later period. This increase was associated with a fall in conversion rate without any significant increase in duration of operation or complication rate. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated that the results achieved in a randomized trial can be translated into clinical practice by the entire surgical unit. A structured training programme with the inclusion of an experienced surgeon assisting both trainees and specialists should minimize this learning curve.