Is emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis safe in a low volume resource poor setting?

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis have not been documented in the low-volume, resource-poor Caribbean setting. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was carried out in a low-resource setting across three islands in the Anglophone Caribbean. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of all consecutive patients who had emergency LC for acute cholecystitis over 82 months were examined. The data were extracted and analysed using SPSS version 14. RESULTS: There were 74 patients with acute cholecystitis at a mean age of 45 (SD 11.8) years. The mean duration of operation was 99 (SD 45) min. There were 3 (4.1%) conversions and 6 (8.1%) complications. No bile duct injuries or deaths were recorded. There was more morbidity in patients with complicated disease, longer mean operation times and longer mean intervals between admission and operation. CONCLUSIONS: Emergent LC for acute cholecystitis is effective and safe in a low-volume setting in the Caribbean. However, the operations are technically demanding and should be performed by trained laparoscopic surgeons.