Preoperative C-reactive protein as a predictor of conversion and complications in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Abstract Introduction: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for gallbladder surgery but may require conversion to open surgery in complicated cases. While preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) is known to reflect inflammation, its predictive role in surgical outcomes remains debated. This study evaluated CRP as a predictor of surgical outcomes in acute cholecystitis and uncomplicated gallbladder stones, explicitly excluding choledocholithiasis to isolate gallbladder-specific inflammatory predictors. Materials and methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 180 patients undergoing LC for acute cholecystitis