BACKGROUND: Evolution and experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis, a better knowledge of alterations provoked by the laparoscopic approach specially related to pneumoperitonium, allowed accomplishment of this procedure in high risk patients (ASA 4), objective of this research. METHODS: From 1992 to 2001, 1507 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Clínica Especializada em Doenças do Aparelho Digestivo (DIGEST), 150 (10%) of them with acute cholecistitis and 10 (0,7%) ASA 4 patients. RESULTS: Mean age was 70,9 years, varying between 50 and 89 years, and 60% were males. Preoperative hospitalization varied from 3 to 22 days. There was a 30% incidence of acute acalculous cholecystitis and 40% of renal disfunction. Other associated diseases were also observed. Postoperative complications included a sub-liver collection with associated pneumonia, solved by drainage guided by ultrasound, two surgical site infections, and a death due to perpetuation of sepsis on a patient previously submitted to a percutaneus cholecystostomy. None of the patients needed conversion to open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the laparoscopic technique approach in the treatment of acute cholecystitis in high risk patients is feasible, since some specific strategies are observed.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Acute cholecystitis; High risk patients
