Optimal Timing for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy After Cholecystostomy in Acute Cholecystitis Tokyo II/III Setting

Percutaneous drainage in acute cholecystitis has been recommended by the recent update of the Tokyo Guidelines for patients with grade II and III disease who are unable to undergo surgical treatment due to their condition or associated comorbidities. There are no reports providing high-quality scientific evidence on the optimal timing for surgery after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage, so a consensus has not been reached. The grade III stage generates the most controversy; after percutaneous drainage, delaying the cholecystectomy can lead to new episodes of exacerbation during the waiting period or may limit the procedure to a specific group of patients with this pathology. The economic impact, including the number of readmissions, increased length of stay, and associated morbidity and mortality, generates controversy regarding the subsequent therapeutic decisions after the medical management of cholecystitis in this special group of patients.