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Cholecystectomy during the index (first) admission of people with mild gallstone pancreatitis is recommended by international guidelines.

More than three in five NSW patients aged 50 years or more with mild gallstone pancreatitis underwent interval rather than index cholecystectomy during 2008‒18. Conversion to open cholecystectomy and emergency gallstone‐related disease re‐admissions were more frequent for these patients. Delayed cholecystectomy was more likely in low or medium surgical volume hospitals and for patients with other medical conditions.

Hospitals should be supported so that index cholecystectomy can be routinely provided to people over 50 with mild gallstone pancreatitis unless clinically contraindicated.

This MJA research article shares more.

Details

1. Explain key components of the research.
2. List main findings.
3. Recognise changes in management in response to the research.

Authors: Jian D Blundell, Robert C Gandy, Jacqueline Close and Lara Harvey

Article Type: Research