Comparative Analysis of Early versus Late Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreaticography in Cases of Cholelithiasis with Choledocholithiasis

INTRODUCTION: A preferred treatment for cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), which can be performed early (within 72 hours) or can be delayed for 6 to 8 weeks. This study is conducted to compare and analyze the outcome of early versus late LC following common bile duct (CBD) clearance by ERCP and determine the optimum timing for performing LC post-ERCP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This comparative analysis was conducted at St Joseph Hospital, Ghaziabad, from September 2019 to March 2021 on 89 cases of cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 45) patients underwent early LC within 72 hours post-ERCP and group II (n = 44) patients underwent late LC after an interval of 8 weeks. Various preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative clinical parameters like operative difficulty, complications, surgery duration, hospital stay, and conversion to open cholecystectomy were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in demographic and laboratory findings in both groups. Group I patients had significantly shorter hospital stay and less operative difficulty. The duration of surgery was significantly low in group I. There was no significant difference in rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: Early LC post-ERCP is associated with short hospital stay and duration of surgery and less operative difficulty and complications. Therefore, we recommend that LC can be safely performed within 48 to 72 hours after ERCP. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Goel A, Kothari S, Bansal R. Comparative Analysis of Early versus Late Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreaticography in Cases of Cholelithiasis with Choledocholithiasis. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2021;11(1):11–13.