Contemporary minimally invasive approaches to the management of acute cholecystitis: a review and appraisal

Abstract

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common emergency admissions in surgical practice. This review appraises the available evidence from the English-language literature regarding the minimally invasive approaches to the management of this condition. The following aspects of care are reviewed and appraised: (1) the diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis, (2) the optimal timing for cholecystectomy (early, delayed, or interval surgery), (3) the optimal approach to cholecystectomy (laparoscopic versus open), (4) the role of intraoperative cholangiography, and (5) the management of patients unfit for surgery.