[Emergency or elective surgery in the treatment of acute cholecystitis].

The authors report their experience in the surgical management of acute cholecystitis. From 1979 to 1991, 308 patients underwent early cholecystectomy. Results obtained, accuracy of pre- and intraoperative diagnostic investigations, and surgical strategy are discussed in relation to prognostic indexes. Personal experience and literature review indicate early cholecystectomy as the treatment of choice in acute cholecystitis.