Cholecystitis or inflammation of the gallbladder is best treated with early removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy).
In Singapore, it is usually performed as a key-hole procedure (laparoscopic approach) and in expert hands [1], a single key-hole may only be needed (Single-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy) which leaves no obvious scar and has been proven to be more acceptable by patients and has less pain [2][3].
The only exception is when the patient is not fit for surgery, i.e. the patient has other medical conditions with prohibitive risks of general anaesthesia. In which case, in an acute setting, the patient may then be treated with antibiotics and possibly a drainage tube may have to be placed into the gallbladder through the skin under local anaesthesia to drain out the pus.
References:
1. Li T, Kim G, Chang S. Tips and tricks to avoid bile duct injury in SILC: an experience of 500 cases. Surgical endoscopy. 2016;30(11):4750-4755. doi:10.1007/s00464-016-4802-4
2. Chang SKY, Wang YL, Shen L, Iyer SG, Shaik ABSB, Lomanto D. Interim report: A randomized controlled trial comparing postoperative pain in single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy and conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Asian Journal of Endoscopic Surgery. 2012;6(1):14-20. doi:10.1111/j.1758-5910.2012.00154.x
3. Lee J, Hock K. Clinics in Surgery Survey on Patients’ Awareness of the Single Port Laparoscopy for Cholecystectomy OPEN ACCESS. 2017;2:1828. http://www.clinicsinsurgery.com/pdfs_folder/cis-v2-id1828.pdf. Accessed December 30, 2019.
