Lights off, camera on! Laparoscopic cholecystectomy improves outcomes in cirrhotic patients with acute cholecystitis.

Background: The best surgical approach to treat acute cholecystitis (AC) in cirrhotic patients is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate treatment options in cirrhotic patients with AC. We hypothesized that laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) would lead to better clinical outcomes when compared to non-operative management (NOM) and open cholecystectomy (OC), independent of the severity of liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Patients from the National Inpatient Sample diagnosed with AC were stratified into no cirrhosis (NC), compensated cirrhosis (CC), and decompensated cirrhosis (DC) and analyzed according to treatment: NOM, OC, and LC. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (HLOS), cost, and surgical complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses using generalized linear models were performed. A P < 0.05 was deemed significant.

Results: Of 1 367 495 AC patients, 49 030 (3.6%) had cirrhosis; 23 260 had CC, and 25 770 had DC. LC (12 080 in CC group and 4840 in DC group) was accompanied by significantly lower mortality, HLOS, complications, and cost when compared to OC and NOM. OC was significantly associated with higher mortality, increased HLOS, total cost, and postoperative complications, independent of the presence or severity of cirrhosis.

Conclusions: LC in cirrhotic patients leads to superior outcomes compared to OC and NOM regardless of the severity of cirrhosis.