Comparative outcomes of Laparoscopic vs. open cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis patients
1Dr Imran Khan, 2Babar Shahzad, 3Qamar Abbas, 4Nazneen Tabassum, 5Muhammad Shiraz Niaz, 6Dr Noor ul Ain Minhas
Submission: 24 December 2025 | Acceptance: 15 January 2026 | Publication: 09 February 2026,
1General and laparoscopic surgeon, Alkhidmat Mashal Medical Complex Baghicha Dheri Swabi road Mardan.
2Associate Professor, PIMS Islamabad.
3Allama Iqbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore.
4Hope Family Clinic Faisalabad.
5Senior Registrar Medicine ( Honoury Basis) Medical Unit 3 Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan.
6Senior registrar general surgery, Consultant general and laparoscopic surgeon.
Watim Medical and Dental college and hospital Rawalpindi.
ABSTRACT:
Background: Another common surgical emergency is acute cholecystitis which in most cases is accompanied by cholecystectomy. There are two major approaches namely laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy where the laparoscopic one has become preferred because it is a minimally invasive procedure. Nevertheless, there was the need to further examine the comparative results of these two methods especially in resource-constrained environments.
Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcomes and the frequency of complications, the operative time, and hospitalization time in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy among the patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis.
Methods: It was a retrospective comparative study carried out in Alkhidmat Mashal Medical Complex Baghicha Dheri Mardan during May 2024 to April 2025. Ninety four patients were recruited who had acute cholecystitis. The patients were assigned into these two following groups according to the surgical procedure performed: Group A and Group B that were exposed to laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy correspondingly. The data on variables like duration of surgery, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and recovery times were noted and analyzed.
Results: Of the 94 patients, the estimated number of patients who were opened versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy were 48 and 46 respectively. The operative time was lower in the laparoscopic group (65 min +/- 12 minutes) than in the open group (82min +/-15 minutes). The mean stay in hospital was much lesser in laparoscopic group (2.3 +/- 0.9 days) than in the open group (5.1 +/- 1.2 days). The infections of wounds and respiratory complications which were part of postoperative complications would occur in more number of the open group (21.7%) than in the laparoscopic group (10.4%). Laparoscopic also had a faster recovery time as majority of the patients used to continue with normal activities within a week.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy proved to have a better outcome due to lesser operative time, less hospital staying, less post operative complication and recovery from it was also faster than open cholecystectomy. Such results justified laparoscopic surgery as the initial practice in the management of acute cholecystitis even in remote care facilities.
Keywords: Acute cholecystitis, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, open cholecystectomy, surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, hospital stay