Nearly three-fourths of patients admitted for acute cholecystitis at hospitals in the United States wait more than 24 hours for a cholecystectomy, with one in five waiting more than 72 hours for surgery, a new study shows.
These delays have consequences for patients. When surgery is postponed more than 72 hours, patients have higher rates of complications, 30-day readmissions and longer hospital stays, the analysis revealed. Patients experiencing a delay are more likely to