Home > Issue 4 ( Volume 3 ) > Acute Cholecystitis: From ER to Surgery
01
FEB
2011

ABSTRACT

Background: Biliary lithiasis is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Cholecystectomy is its main treatment. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered as a first choice treatment in most cases.

Material and methods: One hundred and twelve patients were recruited for the present study, after visiting the emergency department of the University General Hospital of Larissa, where a diagnosis of biliary lithiasis was established. A questionnaire with both open and closed –type questions was used.

Results: Women represented 54,5% of our sample. Positive ultrasonography findings were present in the majority of patients, while leucocytosis was found in 52.7%. Almost all of the patients were admitted to the surgical department and most of them underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The vast majority of those patients, who had a similar attack in the past, had already undergone ultrasonography investigation, and a biochemistry test had been performed in half of them, in primary care settings.

Conclusions: The incidence of cholelithiasis and its dangerous complications warrant a thorough investigation of these patients.

Key words: Biliary lithiasis, Laparoscopy, Hospitalization, Emergency Department,

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