[Acute cholecystitis--early cholecystectomy?].

In acute cholecystitis different therapeutic approaches according to the individual situation are required: urgent (emergency) cholecystectomy is necessary in patients with acute life-threatening complications such as empyema and suspected or confirmed perforation. In uncomplicated cases early operation is recommended within 24 to 72 h. The reliability of diagnosis, technical complications and lethality are not different in patients undergoing early (less than 72 h) as opposed to delayed (less than 2 months) cholecystectomy. Early cholecystectomy prevents the complications of delayed operation and decreases costs for hospital care and is therefore the treatment of choice for most patients with acute cholecystitis.