Gallstones are the leading cause of acute pancreatitis in the United States. The optimal time to perform cholecystectomy for patients with mild pancreatitis due to gallstones is controversial. This study aimed to determine whether early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), which is defined as within 48 hours of hospital admission, compared to delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis decreases the duration of hospital stay.

1,937 adult patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis were studied in a retrospective study. Patients with severe pancreatitis and evidence of preoperative end-organ damage were excluded. The patients were separated into two groups. One group of patients received LC within 48 hours and the other group had delayed LC which was >/= 48 post hospital admission.

This study found that patients with early laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to delayed were associated with a shorter length of hospital stay and operative time, and had no significant increase in morbidity, mortality or reoperation.