Preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) can help predict complications and the need for conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

• Acute cholecystitis patients showed CRP levels at 25.4 mg/l, compared to 7.1 mg/l in chronic cases (p < 0.001).
• CRP reliably predicted conversion to open surgery with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.964 and a sensitivity of 100%.

Understanding CRP levels can refine patient selection, enabling better surgical planning and potentially reducing complications.

• Patients with acute cholecystitis had longer hospital stays (7.4 days) and higher complication rates (16.7% vs. 1.1% for necrosis).