Timely cholecystectomy for acute gallstone disease: an ongoing challenge in a New Zealand provincial centre.

Aims: To review the prior management of patients who underwent cholecystectomy for gallstone disease at a provincial centre over a 1-year period, with a particular focus on potentially preventable morbidity by performing index cholecystectomy (IC).

Methods: Retrospective case note review was performed for patients who underwent cholecystectomy at Hawke's Bay's hospitals between 1 March 2009 and 1 March 2010.

Results: 148 cholecystectomies were performed over the study period.