Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.

Between January 1991 and December 1992, 220 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and were monitored prospectively. Twenty-seven patients (12.3%) had acute cholecystitis, according to strict clinical and pathologic criteria. Their average age was 60.4 years. The average operative time was 121 min. Two of the 27 patients (7.4%) required conversion to open laparotomy. The postoperative morbidity rate was 11%. The average hospital stay was 1.9 days. This series provides further evidence that laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be used safely and effectively to treat acute cholecystitis when performed by experienced surgeons.