ABSTRACT

The effect of timing of cholecystectomy procedure for the definitive treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis on recurrent episodes is reviewed.

277 patients were admitted to our hospital for acute biliary pancreatitis between January 2007 and January 2009. We reviewed the medical records of 42 patients who have been proven to have a recurrent episode among these 277 patients.

Of these 42 patients, 8 (%21) had the recurrent episode within the 8 week interval. The rest had been scheduled for cholecystectomy procedure, however, they either ignored or postponed their appointment, and had the recurrent episode within the long term.

We advocate early cholecystectomy that is performed prior to discharge for the definitive treatment of acute biliary pancreatitis, unless the disease have a severe course, and if the procedure can be carried out with acceptable complication rates.

Keywords: Recurrent pancreatitis, early cholecystectomy