The optimal timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstone disease remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and assess the impact of surgical timing on patient outcomes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 329 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our institution. Demographic data, clinical presentations, surgical details, and outcomes were analyzed. The cohort was predominantly female (80.55%) with a mean age of 41.3 years. Most procedures (89.36%) were elective, with 43.47% of patients waiting over 4 months for surgery. Laparoscopic approach was successful in 98.78% of cases. Postoperative complications occurred in 5.47% of patients, with collection (2.43%) being the most common. Median surgery duration was 55 minutes. There was no significant association between waiting time and complication rates. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy demonstrates high success rates and low complication rates, even with extended waiting times. While timely intervention is ideal, our findings suggest that in resource-constrained settings, some delay in elective cholecystectomy may be acceptable for many patients without significantly increasing risks. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore patient-reported outcomes.
Alhawiti et al. (Fri,) studied this question.