en Outcome in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Following ERCP; Does Timing of Surgery Really Matter? Basic Science Basic Science Original Original <sec> <div>Background</div> <p>Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard treatment for cholelithiasis.</p> </sec> <sec> <div>Objectives</div> <p>Our study intended to evaluate whether timing of surgery is of any influence on the course of the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) following Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography ERCP/Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and to identify and assess various factors that can affect the outcome in these patients.</p> </sec> <sec> <div>Patients and Methods</div> <p>Data of 77 patients treated for choledochocystolithiasis with ERCP/ES followed by LC were reviewed. Patients were classified into four groups, group A (n = 29): LC performed within 24 hours after ERCP; group B (n = 20): LC performed after 24 hours to 7 days; group C (n = 12): LC done between 8 to 28 days; group D (n = 16): LC done after 28 days of ERCP. Primary outcome was operating time and secondary outcomes included intra- or post-operative complications, hospital stay and hospital expenses.</p> </sec> <sec> <div>Results</div> <p>Mean operative time was shortest in group A (57.1 minutes) and longest in group B [63.4 (P = 0.131)]. Mean hospital stay was shortest in group A (2.1 days) and longest in group C (5.7 days) (P = 0.003). Hospital expenses were minimal in group A (P = 0.001). Male sex, serum bilirubin level, White blood cell (WBC) count, duration of ERCP/ES procedure, contracted gall bladder and large calculus size on Ultrasonography (USG) were significantly associated with primary outcome.</p> </sec> <sec> <div>Conclusions</div> <p>LC can be performed within 24 hours of ERCP/ES with favorable outcome and less expenses. Timing of LC after ERCP/ES is not significantly associated with outcome of the procedure. Male sex, serum bilirubin level, WBC count, ERCP/ES procedure duration, contracted gall bladder and large size of gall bladder calculus on imaging are significantly associated with difficulty in surgery.</p> </sec> Choledocholithiasis,Cholelithiasis,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy 100 110 http://annbsurg.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-31-155&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Diwakar Sahu 1003194753284600303 1003194753284600303 No Registrar, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Minimal Access Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Mittu John Mathew 1003194753284600304 1003194753284600304 No Registrar, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Minimal Access Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India Prasanna Kumar Reddy 1003194753284600305 1003194753284600305 Yes Registrar, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology and Minimal Access Surgery, Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India