Use of ultrasonographic risk score in the timing of operative intervention for acute cholecystitis.

Timing of operative intervention for acute cholecystitis has long been a subject of debate. However, actual or impending perforation constitutes an absolute indication for prompt operative intervention. To discriminate these cases from those undergoing observation with conservative treatment, clinical and ultrasonographic findings were reviewed and analyzed in 17 patients with acute cholecystitis. Specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy of ultrasonography in discriminating cases of acute cholecystitis, in terms of timing of operative intervention, were calculated retrospectively based on the operative findings. The risk score for each ultrasonographic finding was determined, and the total risk score was calculated for each patient. The calculated total risk score was found to be well correlated with the macroscopic appearance of the gallbladder at operation in cases of acute cholecystitis. Therefore, this score should be useful in determining the timing of operative intervention for acute cholecystitis. However, the usefulness of the variables should further be established prospectively in other patient populations.