What is the preferred initial treatment for a patient with suspected acute cholecystitis?

The preferred initial treatment for a patient with suspected acute cholecystitis is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This surgical approach is favored because it allows for the removal of the inflamed gallbladder while minimizing recovery time compared to open surgery. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed soon after the diagnosis is confirmed, ideally within 24 to 48 hours, which is critical as it decreases the risk of complications such as perforation or infection.

The laparoscopic technique offers several advantages, including less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker return to normal activities than open surgery. Although open cholecystectomy is an option and may be necessary in certain complicated cases, it is not the first-line treatment due to its associated longer recovery and higher complication rates.

Medical management with antibiotics alone does not resolve the underlying issue of gallstone obstruction and inflammation and should not be the initial treatment unless the patient is not a surgical candidate. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is generally used for cases of choledocholithiasis (bile duct stones) rather than as a primary treatment for cholecystitis itself, as it does not address the gallbladder.

Thus, lapar