Background
When patients have acute cholecystitis, the timing of surgery can vary. Some patients have surgery early (within 7 days), while others may have it later (after 7 days). Early surgery might lead to better health outcomes because it reduces the time patients are exposed to complications. This study aimed to see if it is possible to compare early surgery with standard care for these patients.
Methods
We conducted a pilot study at multiple hospitals. We randomly assigned adult patients with acute cholecystitis to either have early surgery (within 6 hours of diagnosis) or receive standard care. Our main goal was to recruit 60 patients, with each hospital enrolling about one patient per month, and to ensure that 95% of patients were followed up after 90 days.
Results
We successfully enrolled 60 patients (average age 61.7 years; 45% were female) between December 2019 and December 2021, despite some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients in the early surgery group had their surgery after an average of 5.8 hours, while those in the standard care group waited about 20.3 hours. On average, we enrolled 4.6 patients per month across four sites, and all patients completed the follow-up after 90 days.
Conclusion
This pilot study showed that early surgery for cholecystitis is feasible. The results support the idea of conducting a larger study to compare early surgery with standard care.
Opportunities for Improvement
Based on the trial data, clinics can set clear goals for implementing the Fast Track Pathway for accelerated cholecystectomy. This includes:
- Defining measurable outcomes to track patient health after surgery.
- Choosing AI tools that meet specific clinical needs to enhance patient care.
- Implementing a step-by-step approach to pilot projects, using AI to monitor results and real-world impacts.
Contact Us
For more information on AI solutions in medical management, reach out to us:
- Telegram: https://t.me/itinai
- X: https://x.com/vlruso
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/itinai/
