ABSTRACT
Background: Mucocele of the gallbladder, characterized by an excessive accumulation of mucus, often necessitated surgical intervention. Traditionally, conservative management had been employed, but early cholecystectomy had emerged as a potential alternative, purportedly reducing complications and healthcare resource utilization.
Aim: The study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of early cholecystectomy versus conservative management strategies in patients diagnosed with mucocele gallbladder, focusing on outcomes, complications, and healthcare resource utilization.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 2023 to January 2024, including a study population of 120 patients diagnosed with mucocele gallbladder. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent early cholecystectomy (n=60) and those managed conservatively (n=60). Data on patient outcomes, complication rates, and healthcare resource utilization were collected and analyzed.
Results: The early cholecystectomy group exhibited significantly better outcomes compared to the conservative management group. Complications such as infection, perforation, and biliary tract obstruction were notably lower in the surgical group. Furthermore, the average hospital stay and total healthcare costs were reduced in patients undergoing early cholecystectomy. Specifically, the early cholecystectomy group had an average hospital stay of 3.5 days compared to 7.2 days in the conservative management group, and healthcare costs were reduced by 25%.
Conclusion: Early cholecystectomy was associated with improved patient outcomes, reduced complication rates, and decreased healthcare resource utilization compared to conservative management in patients with mucocele gallbladder. These findings supported the recommendation of early surgical intervention in appropriate clinical scenarios.
Keywords: Mucocele gallbladder, early cholecystectomy, conservative management, complications, healthcare resource utilization.