Can we predict severity of acute cholecystitis at admission?

Background and Objective: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is an inflammation of the gallbladder. Tokyo Guidelines (TGs) for the diagnosis of AC classified this condition according to severity as mild, moderate and severe. Therapeutic intervention regulated according to the type of severity. This study aimed to determine laboratory parameters that predict the severity of AC at hospital admission.

Methods: One-hundred and ten patients with AC were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were treated in our department of surgery within a one-year period (2015–2016). Three patient groups were formed depending on the severity of Acute cholecystitis.

Results: The baseline mean values for white blood cell count (WBC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and international normalized ratio (INR) were higher in the severe patient group at a significant level compared to the mild patient group. The WBC level was also significantly higher in the moderate group than the mild group. However, none of the laboratory parameters differentiated the severe group from the moderate group.

Conclusion: Acute cholecystitis patients with high WBC, BUN, creatinine and INR levels at admission should be referred to an advanced care center for management.