For safe and fast surgery: Utilization of the SAND balloon catheter for acute cholecystitis.

Background: The utility of the SAND balloon catheter in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (AC) remains unclear.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy at Shinshu University was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the SAND balloon catheter in cases of AC (SAND balloon utilization: Group S, n = 44; non-utilization: Group non-S, n = 47).

Results: The duration of surgery was significantly shorter in Group S than in Group non-S (p = .