RT Journal
A1 West MA
T1 Shifting surgical paradigms for cholecystectomy in mild gallstone pancreatitis: Comment on “early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for mild gallstone pancreatitis”
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2012
FD November 1
VO 147
IS 11
SP 1035
OP 1035
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2012.1637
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2012.1637
AB 
The article by Falor and colleagues,1 “Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Mild Gallstone Pancreatitis: Time for a Paradigm Shift,” represents a potentially important retrospective study. By providing real data, Falor and colleagues1 once again show that some of our cherished biases and beliefs may be incorrect. Their study1 examined the impact of early vs delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in uncomplicated acute gallstone pancreatitis and demonstrated outcomes that were statistically indistinguishable. Specifically, they found no increase in the number of complications, in the incidence of conversion to open cholecystectomy, or in the need for postoperative of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The article did demonstrate a significant 3-day decrease in hospital length of stay in the early laparoscopic cholecystectomy group. They concluded that a laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely performed early in gallstone pancreatitis, without waiting for normalization of laboratory values.