Background We evaluated the risk of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis while waiting for cholecystectomy for gallstones. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 168 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for gallstones after a waiting period and conservative therapy between April 2014 and March 2018 at our hospital. We compared the clinical data from 20 patients who developed acute cholangitis and cholecystitis while waiting for cholecystectomy (group A) with data from 148 patients who did not develop cholangitis and cholecystitis (group B). The risk factors for developing acute cholangitis and cholecystitis and all patients' surgical outcomes were investigated. Results Preoperatively, significant differences in age (68.6 years vs 60.7 years; p= 0.004) and the number of patients with a previous history of acute grade II or III cholecystitis (55.0% vs 10.8%; p< 0.001) and biliary drainage (20.0% vs 2.0%; p= 0.004) were observed between group A and group B, respectively. Preoperative white blood cell counts (13500/µL vs 8155/µL; p< 0.001) and serum C-reactive protein levels (12.6 mg/dL vs 5.1 mg/dL; p< 0.001) were significantly increased, and serum albumin levels (3.2 g/dL vs 4.0 g/dL; p< 0.001) were significantly decreased in group A vs group B, respectively. Gallbladder wall thickening (≥ 5 mm) (45.0% vs 18.9%; p= 0.018), incarcerated gallbladder neck stones (55.0% vs 22.3%; p= 0.005), and abscess around the gallbladder (20.0% vs 1.4%; p= 0.002) were seen significantly more frequently during imaging in group A vs group B, respectively. Furthermore, investigating patients' surgical outcomes revealed a higher conversion rate to open surgery (20.0% vs 2.0%; p= 0.004), longer operation time (137 min vs 102 min; p< 0.001), and a higher incidence of intraoperative complications (10.0% vs 0%; p= 0.014) in group A vs group B, respectively. Conclusions Our results suggest that a history of severe cholecystitis is a risk factor for developing acute cholangitis and cholecystitis in patients waiting for surgery, and a risk factor for increased surgical difficulty.
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