METHODS: A systematic search was performed in the following data bases: PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS and Scielo. Articles on patients with acute, mild gallstone pancreatitis who required a cholecystectomy during their initial hospitalization were included and compared with those undergoing a late cholecystectomy, in order to evaluate the complications, number of days of hospitalization and need for readmission. The quality of the studies and the risks of bias were evaluated.
RESULTS: A total of 580 articles and summaries were identified which included 3 observational studies and a randomized clinical trial. A total of 636 patients who underwent a cholecystectomy during the initial hospitalization were included,. Ten of 207 (4.83%) in the early cholecystectomy group showed some type of complication, and 19 of 429 (4.42%) in the late cholecystectomy group, with a risk difference of -0.0016 IC 95% ([-0.04]-0.04). Three of the included studies should be considered of low quality and one of high quality. No publication bias was evidenced.
CONCLUSIONS: No differences in complication rate were found between patients who underwent an early cholecystectomy versus a late cholecystectomy; nevertheless, further studies should be carried out in order to confirm these findings.