. 2012 Jan 12;13:7. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-13-7

Table 2.

In- and exclusion criteria for eligibility for participation in the CHOCOLATE trial.

Inclusion Criteria	Exclusion Criteria
- Age ≥ 18 - The diagnoses acute calculous cholecystitis defined according to the Tokyo Guidelines: A. Local signs of inflammation: (1) Murphy's sign, (2) Right upper quadrant mass/pain/tenderness B. Systemic signs of inflammation: (1) Fever, (2) elevated CRP, (3) elevated WBC count C. Imaging findings: imaging findings characteristic of acute cholecystitis Definite diagnosis: (1) One item in A and one item in B are positive (2) C confirms the diagnosis when acute cholecystitis is suspected clinically - APACHE-II score ≥ 7 AND ≤ 14 - Written informed consent	- Onset of symptoms > 7 days before first presentation - Already admitted to ICU on presentation - Pregnancy - APACHE-II score ≤ 6 OR ≥ 15 - Acalculous cholecystitis - Decompensated liver cirrhosis - Mental illness prohibiting informed consent

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

- Age ≥ 18
- The diagnoses acute calculous cholecystitis defined according to the Tokyo Guidelines:
A. Local signs of inflammation: (1) Murphy's sign, (2) Right upper quadrant mass/pain/tenderness
B. Systemic signs of inflammation: (1) Fever, (2) elevated CRP, (3) elevated WBC count
C. Imaging findings: imaging findings characteristic of acute cholecystitis
Definite diagnosis:
(1) One item in A and one item in B are positive
(2) C confirms the diagnosis when acute cholecystitis is suspected clinically
- APACHE-II score ≥ 7 AND ≤ 14
- Written informed consent

- Onset of symptoms > 7 days before first presentation
- Already admitted to ICU on presentation
- Pregnancy
- APACHE-II score ≤ 6 OR ≥ 15
- Acalculous cholecystitis
- Decompensated liver cirrhosis
- Mental illness prohibiting informed consent