Acute Cholecystitis: Early Versus Delayed Cholecystectomy, A Multicenter Randomized Trial (ACDC Study, NCT00447304)

Laparoscopic management of intra-abdominal infections: Systematic review of the literature

AIM: To investigate the role of laparoscopy in diagnosis and treatment of intra abdominal infections.

METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was performed including studies where intra abdominal infections were treated laparoscopically.

RESULTS: Early laparoscopic approaches have become the standard surgical technique for treating acute cholecystitis. The laparoscopic appendectomy has been demonstrated to be superior to open surgery in acute appendicitis. In the event of diverticulitis, laparoscopic resections have proven to be safe and effective procedures for experienced laparoscopic surgeons and may be performed without adversely affecting morbidity and mortality rates. However laparoscopic resection has not been accepted by the medical community as the primary treatment of choice. In high-risk patients, laparoscopic approach may be used for exploration or peritoneal lavage and drainage. The successful laparoscopic repair of perforated peptic ulcers for experienced surgeons, is demonstrated to be safe and effective. Regarding small bowel perforations, comparative studies contrasting open and laparoscopic surgeries have not yet been conducted. Successful laparoscopic resections addressing iatrogenic colonic perforation have been reported despite a lack of literature-based evidence supporting such procedures. In post-operative infections, laparoscopic approaches may be useful in preventing diagnostic delay and controlling the source.

CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy has a good diagnostic accuracy and enables to better identify the causative pathology; laparoscopy may be recommended for the treatment of many intra-abdominal infections.

Meta-analysis comparing early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies comparing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) for acute cholecystitis were incomplete. A meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the cost-effectiveness, quality of life, safety and effectiveness of ELC versus DLC.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared ELC (performed within 7 days of symptom onset) with DLC (undertaken at least 1 week after symptoms had subsided) for acute cholecystitis.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies reporting on 15 RCTs comprising 1625 patients were included. Compared with DLC, ELC was associated with lower hospital costs, fewer work days lost (mean difference (MD) -11·07 (95 per cent c.i. -16·21 to -5·94) days; P < 0·001), higher patient satisfaction and quality of life, lower risk of wound infection (relative risk 0·65, 95 per cent c.i. 0·47 to 0·91; P = 0·01) and shorter hospital stay (MD -3·38 (-4·23 to -2·52) days; P < 0·001), but a longer duration of operation (MD 11·12 (4·57 to 17·67) min; P < 0·001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in mortality, bile duct injury, bile leakage, conversion to open cholecystectomy or overall complications.

CONCLUSION

For patients with acute cholecystitis, ELC appears as safe and effective as DLC. ELC might be associated with lower hospital costs, fewer work days lost, and greater patient satisfaction.

Clinical Presentation, Imaging, and Management of Acute Cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a life-threatening emergency that commonly occurs as a complication of gallstones. Severe right upper quadrant pain, abdominal guarding, fever, and a positive Murphy's sign with an elevated white blood cell count are the classical clinical manifestations of AC. Although ultrasonography is typically the initial diagnostic examination in patients with suspected AC, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are commonly performed to identify complications; cholescintigraphy is recommended in patients with equivocal findings on the other imaging modalities, as this technique has the highest diagnostic accuracy in the diagnosis of AC. Imaging studies are also helpful in the timely detection of complications associated with AC. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold-standard treatment for AC, percutaneous gallbladder drainage with or without cholecystostomy tube placement is a safe, effective management technique for surgically high-risk patients with multiple medical conditions. This treatment can be used as either a bridging therapy, with elective cholecystectomy performed at a later time after improvement of the patient's condition, or as definitive treatment in surgically unfit patients. Radiologists play a pivotal role in the initial diagnosis and management of patients with AC.

Early Percutaneous Cholecystostomy in Severe Acute Cholecystitis Reduces the Complication Rate and Duration of Hospital Stay

The optimal timing of percutaneous cholecystostomy for severe acute cholecystitis is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the timing of percutaneous cholecystostomy and its relationship to clinical outcomes in patients with inoperable acute severe cholecystitis.From 2008 to 2010, 209 consecutive patients who were admitted to our hospital due to acute cholecystitis and were treated by percutaneous cholecystostomy were retrospectively reviewed. The time periods from symptom onset to when percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed and when patients were discharged were recorded.In the 209 patients, the median time period between symptom onset and percutaneous cholecystostomy was 23 hours (range, 3-95 hours). The early intervention group (≤24 hours, n = 109) had a significantly lower procedure-related bleeding rate (0.0% vs 5.0%, P = 0.018) and shorter hospital stay (15.8 ± 12.9 vs 21.0 ± 17.5 days) as compared with the late intervention group (>24 hours, n = 100). Delayed percutaneous cholecystostomy was a significant independent factor for a longer hospital stay (odds ratio 3.03, P = 0.001).In inoperable patients with acute severe cholecystitis, early percutaneous cholecystostomy reduced hospital stay and procedure-related bleeding without increasing the mortality rate.

Perioperative outcomes of delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis with and without percutaneous cholecystostomy

INTRODUCTION

The role of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the management of patients with acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) remains controversial. The aim of this study is to report operative outcomes in a large cohort of patients undergoing PC before their delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC).

METHODS

All patients who underwent DLC because of ACC between 2003 and 2012 were included. Outcomes of patients with and without previous PC were compared.

RESULTS

Of 639 patients who underwent DLC because of ACC at our institution during a 10-year time interval beginning 2003, 163 (25.5%) patients had PC before their DLC. Patients who underwent PC were older (64 ± 1 years vs 48 ± 0.8 years, P < .001) and had more comorbid conditions (P < .001). Accumulated duration of stay was longer in the PC group (16.2 ± 0.4 days vs 9.7 ± 0.1 days, P < .001). Rate of conversion to open procedure was greater in the PC group (11% vs 4%, P = .001) and operative time was longer (142 ± 4 minutes vs 107 ± 4 minutes, P < .001). Patients in the PC group had a greater rate of biliary-related complications (10% vs 4%, P = .003) and surgical-site infections; both superficial (5% vs 1%, P = .004) and deep (7% vs 3%, P = .04). On multivariable analysis PC was an independent risk factor for conversion to open cholecystectomy (odds ratio 2.67 95% CI 1.18-6.72) as well as to biliary-related complications (odds ratio 4.85 95% CI 1.57-14.92).

CONCLUSION

DLC for ACC in patients with previous PC is associated with longer duration of stay, more readmissions, and, most importantly, greater conversion rate, biliary related complications, and surgical-site infections.

Early versus delayed same-admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in elderly patients with comorbidities

BACKGROUND

The optimal timing of same-admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) in elderly patients, especially those with significant comorbidities, is not clear.

METHODS

This is a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program study, which included patients older than 65 years undergoing LC for AC. Patients with choledocholithiasis were excluded. Patients were divided into two subgroups as follows: no significant comorbidities (American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] score ≤ 2) and significant comorbidities (ASA score > 2). Patients undergoing LC within 24 hours of admission (early LC) were compared with patients undergoing LC later than 24 hours after admission (delayed LC), using univariable and multivariable regression analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 4,011 patients were included in the study. Early LC was performed in 38.0% and delayed LC in 62.0% of the patients. Regression analysis identified early LC as an independent predictor for shorter anesthesia time and postoperative length of stay, overall and in the subgroup with an ASA score greater than 2.

CONCLUSION

Early, within 24 hours of admission, LC for AC in patients older than 65 years with significant comorbidities is associated with shorter postoperative stay and no increase in postoperative complications or conversion to open cholecystectomy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic study, level IV.

Cholecystectomy vs. percutaneous cholecystostomy for the management of critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis: a protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Acute cholecystitis is a common diagnosis. However, the heterogeneity of presentation makes it difficult to standardize management. Although surgery is the mainstay of treatment, critically ill patients have been managed via percutaneous cholecystostomy. However, the role of percutaneous cholecystostomy in the management of such patients has not been clearly established. This systematic review will compare the outcomes of critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis managed with percutaneous cholecystostomy to those of similar patients managed with cholecystectomy.

METHODS/DESIGN

Systematic searches will be conducted across relevant health databases including the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus using the following keywords: (acute cholecystitis OR severe cholecystitis OR cholecystitis) AND (cholecystectomy OR laparoscopic cholecystectomy OR open cholecystectomy) AND (Cholecystostomy OR percutaneous cholecystectomy OR gallbladder drain OR gallbladder tube OR transhepatic gallbladder drain OR transhepatic gallbladder tube OR cholecystostomy tube). The reference lists of eligible articles will be hand searched. Articles from 2000-2014 will be identified using the key terms "acute cholecystitis, cholecystectomy, and percutaneous cholecystostomy". Studies including both interventions will be included. Relevant data will be extracted from eligible studies using a specially designed data extraction sheet. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale will be used to assess the quality of non-randomized studies. Central tendencies will be reported in terms of means and standard deviations where necessary, and risk ratios will be calculated where possible. All calculations will be performed with a 95 % confidence interval. Furthermore, the Fisher's exact test will be used for the calculation of significance, which will be set at p < 0.05. Pooled estimates will be presented after consideration of both clinical and methodological heterogeneity of included studies. Both interventions would be compared with regard to in-hospital mortality, 30-day mortality, procedure-dependent complications, re-intervention, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, length of hospital stay, re-admission, and cost of treatment. The review will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review aims at identifying and evaluating the clinical value of percutaneous cholecystostomy in the management of critically ill patients with acute cholecystitis.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42015016205.

Postoperative outcomes with cholecystectomy in lung transplant recipients

INTRODUCTION

There is a paucity of data on outcomes for lung transplant (LT) recipients requiring general surgery procedures. This study examined outcomes after cholecystectomy in LT recipients using a large database.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample Database (2005-2010) was queried for all LT patients requiring laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and open cholecystectomy (OC).

RESULTS

There were a total of 377 cholecystectomies performed in LT patients. The majority were done for acute cholecystitis (n = 218; 57%) and were done urgently/emergently (n = 258; 68%). There were a total of 304 (81%) laparoscopic cholecystectomies and 73 (19%) OC. There was no difference in age when comparing the laparoscopic and open groups (53.6 vs 55.5 years; P = .39). In addition, the Charlson Comorbidity Index was similar in the 2 groups (P = .07). Patients undergoing OC were more likely to have perioperative myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, or any complication compared with the laparoscopic group. Total hospital charges ($59,137.00 vs $106,329.80; P = .03) and median duration of stay (4.0 vs 8.0 days; P = .02) were both greater with open compared with LC.

CONCLUSION

Cholecystectomy can be performed safely in the LT population with minimal morbidity and mortality.

Surgical management of acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Acute cholecystitis occurs in approximately 1% of patients with known gallstones. It presents as a surgical emergency and usually requires hospitalisation for treatment. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. Cholecystectomy is advocated for acute cholecystitis; however, the timing of cholecystectomy and the value of the additional treatments have been a matter of debate. This review examines the available evidence regarding the optimal surgical management of patients with acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

A literature search was performed on the MEDLINE, EMBASE and WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, databases for English language publications. The MeSH headings 'cholecystitis', 'acute', 'gallbladder', 'inflammation', 'surgery', 'cholecystectomy', 'laparoscopic', 'robotic', 'telerobotic' and 'computer-assisted' were used.

RESULTS

Data from eight randomised controlled trails and three population-based analyses show that early cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis performed on the index admission is safe and not associated with increased conversion rates or morbidity in comparison to conservative treatment followed by elective cholecystectomy. Delaying cholecystectomy increases readmissions for gallstone-related events, complications, hospital stay and mortality in the elderly. Early cholecystectomy is also more cost-effective. Randomised trials addressing antibiotic use in acute cholecystitis suggest that antibiotics should be stopped on the day of cholecystectomy. Insufficient trials have been performed to address the optimal analgesia regime post cholecystectomy. Similarly, a lack of trials on intraoperative cholangiography and management of common bile duct stones in patients with acute cholecystitis means that treatment of concomitant bile duct stones should be based on institutional expertise and resource availability. As regards acute cholecystitis in elderly and high-risk patients, case series and retrospective studies would suggest that cholecystectomy is more effective and of lower mortality than percutaneous cholecystostomy. There is not enough evidence to support the routine use of robotic surgery, single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy or natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Trial evidence would favour a policy of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy following admission with acute cholecystitis. The optimal approach to support early cholecystectomy is suggested but requires evidence from further randomised trials.

C-reactive protein has a better discriminative power than white cell count in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (AC) is challenging and may result in a delay in surgery, hospital discharge, and increased mortality. To improve its diagnosis, C-reactive protein (CRP) has been proposed as a benchmark. The aim of this study was to evaluate discriminative power of CRP against white cell count (WCC) in AC.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study. Over a 5-y period, 1959 patients were identified from the audit of cholecystectomies. The exclusion criteria were coexisting acute surgical conditions, absence of blood tests within 3 d before hospital admission for elective surgery, and private patients.

RESULTS

The eligibility criteria were met by 1843 patients. Comparison of the area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve of CRP and WCC in acute on chronic, edematous, necrotic, suppurative, and gangrenous AC showed a better discriminative power of CRP. Both tests performed equally well in patients with pericholecystic abscess and gallbladder perforation. CRP was superior than WCC in mild AC, AUC = 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-0.95) and 0.79 (95% CI, 0.74-0.84), P < 0.00005, in moderate and severe AC, AUC = 0.99 (95% CI, 0.97-1.0) and 0.92 (95% CI, 0.88-0.97), P = 0.009, and in all forms of AC combined, AUC = 0.94; (95% CI, 0.92-0.97) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.79-0.87), respectively, P < 0.00005.

CONCLUSIONS

CRP has a better discriminative power than WCC in most forms of AC and is a useful diagnostic marker of AC.

Early Cholecystectomy Is Superior to Delayed Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholecystitis: a Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis remains an issue for debate amongst general surgeons. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between early and delayed cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The primary outcome measures included mortality rates, complication rates, length of hospital stay and conversion rates to open procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of electronic databases was performed for randomised controlled trials. Fifteen studies were included.

RESULTS

Early surgery has a decreased risk of wound infections (RR 0.57, 95 % CI 0.35-0.93, p=0.01) compared with delayed surgery but no difference in mortality, bile duct injuries, bile duct leaks and the risk of conversion to open surgery. Of patients in the delayed group, 9.7 % failed initial non-operative management and underwent emergency LC. Early surgery had a significantly reduced total hospital stay and mean hospital costs compared with delayed surgery.

CONCLUSION

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis demonstrated decreased incidence of wound infections, a shorter total length of stay and decreased costs with no difference in the rates of mortality, bile duct injuries, bile leaks and conversions. These results support that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the best care and should be considered a routine in patients presenting with acute cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: consensus conference-based guidelines

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard technique for gallbladder diseases in both acute and elective surgery. Nevertheless, reports from national surveys still seem to represent some doubts regarding its diffusion. There is neither a wide consensus on its indications nor on its possible related morbidity. On the other hand, more than 25 years have passed since the introduction of LC, and we have all witnessed the exponential growth of knowledge, skill and technology that has followed it. In 1995, the EAES published its consensus statement on laparoscopic cholecystectomy in which seven main questions were answered, according to the available evidence. During the following 20 years, there have been several additional guidelines on LC, mainly focused on some particular aspect, such as emergency or concomitant biliary tract surgery.

METHODS

In 2012, several Italian surgical societies decided to revisit the clinical recommendations for the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of gallbladder diseases in adults, to update and supplement the existing guidelines with recommendations that reflect what is known and what constitutes good practice concerning LC.

Hepato-pancreato-biliary emergencies for the acute care surgeon: etiology, diagnosis and treatment

Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) emergencies include an ample range of conditions with overlapping clinical presentations and diverse therapeutic options. The most common etiologies are related to cholelithiasis (acute cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and cholangitis) and non-traumatic injuries (common bile duct or duodenal). Although the true incidence of HPB emergencies is difficult to determine due to selection and reporting biases, a population-based report showed a decline in the global incidence of all severe complications of cholelithiasis, primarily based on a reduction in acute cholecystitis. Even though patients may present with overlapping symptoms, treatment options can be varied. The treatment of these conditions continues to evolve and patients may require endoscopic, surgical, and/or percutaneous techniques. Thus, it is essential that a multidisciplinary team of HPB surgeons, interventional gastroenterologists and radiologists are available on an as needed basis to the Acute Care Surgeon. This focused manuscript is a contemporary review of the literature surrounding HPB emergencies in the context of the acute care surgeon. The main aim of this review is to offer an update of the diagnosis and management of HPB issues in the acute care setting to improve the care of patients with potential HPB emergencies.

Grading operative findings at laparoscopic cholecystectomy- a new scoring system

INTRODUCTION

Variation in outcomes from surgery is a major challenge and defining surgical findings may help set benchmarks, which currently do not exist in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study outlines a new surgical scoring system incorporating key operative findings.

METHODS

English language studies (from January 1965 to July 2014) pertaining to severity scoring and predictors of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy were searched for in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases using the search terms 'Laparoscopic cholecystectomy or Lap chole' and/or 'Scoring Index or Grading system or Prediction of difficulty or Conversion to open' in various combinations. Cross-referencing from papers retrieved in the original search identified additional articles.

RESULTS

Sixteen published papers report a gallbladder (GB) scoring system, but all relate to pre-operative clinical and imaging findings, rather than operative findings. The current scoring system, using operative findings incorporates the appearance of the GB, presence of GB distension, ease of access, potential biliary complications and time taken to identify cystic duct and artery. A score of <2 would imply mild difficulty, 2-4 moderate, 5-7 severe and 8-10 extreme.

CONCLUSION

This paper reports one of the first operative classifications of findings at laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It has the potential to allow benchmarks for international collaboration of operative and patient outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute cholecystitis; a retrospective analysis of a large series of 104 patients

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical course and possible benefit of a percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients with acute cholecystitis.

Methods

Retrospective study of 104 patients with severe cholecystitis or cholecystitis not responding to antibiotic therapy treated with percutaneous drainage of the gall bladder (PC) during the period 2007 – 2013. Primary outcome was relief of cholecystitis, complications following the procedure and need for later cholecystectomy.

Results

There were 57 men and 47 women with a median age of 73,5 years (range 22 – 96). 43% of the patients were ASA III or IV and 91% had cholecystitis Grade 2 or 3. About 60% of the patients had severe comorbidity (cardiovascular disease or active cancer). Drain insertion was successful in all but one patient and complications were mild, apart from two patients that needed percutaneous drainage of intraabdominal fluid collection due to bile leakage. The drain was left in place for 1 – 75 days (median 6,5). When evaluated clinically and by blood tests (CRP and white blood cell counts) we found resolution of symptoms in 101 patients (97,2%), whereas 2 patients had no obvious effect of drainage. Four patients died within 30 days, no deaths were related to the drainage procedure. Follow-up after drainage was median 12 months (range 0 – 78). During that time cholecystectomy was performed in 30 patients and 24 patients had died. Following cholecystectomy, two had died, both from cancer and more than one year after the operation.

Conclusion

Patients with acute cholecystitis were promptly relieved from their symptoms following PC. There were only minor complications following the procedure and only about 30% of the patients had a later cholecystectomy.

[Benefit assessment of operative interventions from the perspective of surgical research]

The benefit assessment of surgical procedures serves as the basis for the concept of evidence-based surgery. However, especially in the field of surgery, many interventions are lacking assessment in high-quality clinical trials. Therefore, a well-structured benefit assessment of surgical interventions in the future is imperative. Considering the different perspectives, e.g. of the patients, surgeons, industry or health care investors, the implications of the benefits and risks of a procedure can differ significantly. Researchers have to abide by different regulations, depending on the type of intervention being evaluated in a surgical trial. Furthermore, the benefit assessment of surgical procedures poses specific challenges, from the choice of a relevant endpoint to issues concerning the standardization of the interventions and the impact of learning curves. The IDEAL concept, which was established by a group of international experts in 2009, serves as a framework for the future development and assessment of innovations in the field of surgery. For example, the SDGC (Study Center of the German Society of Surgery) and CHIR-Net (Surgical Studies Network) indicate that such collaborations of clinicians and methodologists can lead to the creation of a qualified structure for the effective benefit assessment of surgical procedures. In the future, the aforementioned evidence gaps must be eliminated and innovations evaluated efficiently by the work of such networks.

Cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. How time-critical are the so called "golden 72 hours"? Or better "golden 24 hours" and "silver 25-72 hour"? A case control study

Introduction

Early cholecystectomy within 72 hours has been shown to be superior to late or delayed cholecystectomy with regard to outcome and cost of treatment. Recently, immediate cholecystectomy within 24 hours of onset of symptom was proposed as standard procedure for the management of fit patients presenting with acute cholecystitis. We sort to find out if there are any differences in surgical outcomes between patients managed within 24 h and those managed 25-72 h following symptom begin for acute cholecystitis.

Patients and methods

A retrospective analysis was performed. The outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 h were compared to those of patients managed 25-72 h following symptom onset for acute cholecystitis.

Results

35 patients managed 25-72 h following begin of symptoms were matched with 35 patients with similar baseline features, medical comorbidities and disease severity managed within 24 hours of symptom onset. There were no significant differences in the duration of surgery, postoperative complications, rate of conversion and length of hospital stay.

Conclusion

Immediate laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis within 24 hour of symptom onset is not superior to surgery 25–72 hour after symptoms begin. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis therefore can be safely performed anytime within the golden 72 h.

Cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. How time-critical are the so called "golden 72 hours"? Or better "golden 24 hours" and "silver 25-72 hour"? A case control study

INTRODUCTION

Early cholecystectomy within 72 hours has been shown to be superior to late or delayed cholecystectomy with regard to outcome and cost of treatment. Recently, immediate cholecystectomy within 24 hours of onset of symptom was proposed as standard procedure for the management of fit patients presenting with acute cholecystitis. We sort to find out if there are any differences in surgical outcomes between patients managed within 24 h and those managed 25-72 h following symptom begin for acute cholecystitis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed. The outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 h were compared to those of patients managed 25-72 h following symptom onset for acute cholecystitis.

RESULTS

35 patients managed 25-72 h following begin of symptoms were matched with 35 patients with similar baseline features, medical comorbidities and disease severity managed within 24 hours of symptom onset. There were no significant differences in the duration of surgery, postoperative complications, rate of conversion and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSION

Immediate laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis within 24 hour of symptom onset is not superior to surgery 25-72 hour after symptoms begin. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis therefore can be safely performed anytime within the golden 72 h.

Robotic versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy inpatient analysis: does the end justify the means?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (RAC) was introduced several years ago. With its more extensive use by surgeons, more information is needed regarding clinical and economic outcomes.

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample from the Health Cost Utilization Project was analyzed using HCUPnet, National Inpatient Sample (NIS) datasets and SAS 9.2 for the years 2010-2011. Queries were made for RAC and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) procedures with a primary diagnosis of gallbladder disease. Overall charges, costs, number of chronic conditions, comorbidities, and length of stay were calculated.

RESULTS

RAC was $7518, +54 % (p < 0.05), and $4044, +29 % (p < 0.05), more costly compared to LC in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Total costs for RAC decreased by 14.6 % (p = 0.27) between 2010 and 2011, even though RAC was still costlier than LC in 2011. There was no significant difference in the LOS between RAC and LC in either years. Patients undergoing RAC had an increased number of chronic conditions compared to patients undergoing LC in both 2010 and 2011.

CONCLUSION

LOS of RAC is similar to LC. Cost of RAC remains higher compared to LC although there was reduction in cost of RAC in 2011 versus 2010.

A 'critical view' on a classical pitfall in laparoscopic cholecystectomy!

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common laparoscopic surgery performed by general surgeons. Although being a routine procedure, classical pitfalls shall be regarded, as misperception of intraoperative anatomy is one of the leading causes of bile duct injuries. The "critical view of safety" in laparoscopic cholecystectomy serves the unequivocal identification of the cystic duct before transection. The aim of this manuscript is to discuss classical pitfalls and bile duct injury avoiding strategies in laparoscopic cholecystectomy, by presenting an interesting case report.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 71-year-old patient, who previously suffered from a biliary pancreatitis underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy after ERCP with stone extraction. The intraoperative situs showed a shrunken gallbladder. After placement of four trocars, the gall bladder was grasped in the usual way at the fundus and pulled in the right upper abdomen. Following the dissection of the triangle of Calot, a "critical view of safety" was established. As dissection continued, it however soon became clear that instead of the cystic duct, the common bile duct had been dissected. In order to create an overview, the gallbladder was thereafter mobilized fundus first and further preparation resumed carefully to expose the cystic duct and the common bile duct. Consecutively the operation could be completed in the usual way.

DISCUSSION

Despite permanent increase in learning curves and new approaches in laparoscopic techniques, bile duct injuries still remain twice as frequent as in the conventional open approach. In the case presented, transection of the common bile duct was prevented through critical examination of the present anatomy. The "critical view of safety" certainly offers not a full protection to avoid biliary lesions, but may lead to a significant risk minimization when consistently implemented.

CONCLUSION

A sufficient mobilization of the gallbladder from its bed is essential in performing a critical view in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Evidence-Based Management of Common Gallstone-Related Emergencies

Gallstone-related disease is among the most common clinical problems encountered worldwide. The manifestations of cholelithiasis vary greatly, ranging from mild biliary colic to life-threatening gallstone pancreatitis and cholangitis. The vast majority of gallstone-related diseases encountered in an acute setting can be categorized as biliary colic, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and pancreatitis, although these diagnoses can overlap. The management of these diseases is uniquely multidisciplinary, involving many specialties and treatment options. Thus, care may be compromised due to redundant tests, treatment delays, or inconsistent management. This review outlines the evidence for initial evaluation, diagnostic workup, and treatment for the most common gallstone-related emergencies. Key principles include initial risk stratification of patients to aid in triage and timing of interventions, early initiation of appropriate antibiotics for patients with evidence of cholecystitis or cholangitis, patient selection for endoscopic biliary decompression, and growing evidence in favor of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for clinically stable patients.

Cholecystectomy in octogenarians: be careful

Cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for symptomatic gallstone or acute cholecystitis, and a growing number of elderly patients are undergoing resection. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of cholecystectomy in elderly patients. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 337 patients with symptomatic gallstone or acute cholecystitis who underwent cholecystectomies between January 2011 and June 2013. Perioperative data were compared between octogenarians and younger patients. A subgroup undergoing cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (n = 146, 43.3 %) was further analyzed. The octogenarian group included 34 patients (10.1 %), while the younger patient group included 303 patients (89.9 %). The octogenarian group was associated with higher rates of comorbidities and acute cholecystitis. The octogenarian group had significantly low laparoscopic completed rates, high postoperative complication rates, and longer postoperative hospital stays. Among the acute cholecystitis group, 24 patients (16.4 %) were octogenarians and 122 patients (83.6 %) were younger patients. No significant difference was found in the morbidity and postoperative hospital stay between the two groups. Only one patient (0.3 %), an octogenarian, died of pneumonia. Cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone or acute cholecystitis can be safely performed even in octogenarians. However, care should be taken because they have comorbidities and limited functional reserves.

Are we meeting the British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for cholecystectomy post-gallstone pancreatitis?

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to audit the current management of patients suffering with gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) at a university teaching hospital for compliance with the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guidelines regarding cholecystectomy post-GSP.

METHODS

Data were collected on all patients identified via the hospital coding department that presented with GSP between January 2011 and November 2013. Patients with alcoholic pancreatitis were excluded. The primary outcome was the length of time in days from diagnosis of GSP to cholecystectomy. Secondary outcomes included readmission with gallstone-related disease prior to definitive management and admitting speciality.

RESULTS

One hundred and fifty-eight patients were identified with a presentation of GSP during the study period. Thirty-nine patients were treated conservatively. One hundred and six patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy a median (interquartile range) interval of 33.5 days (64 days) post-admission. Patients with a severe attack as classified by the Glasgow severity score (n = 16) waited a median of 79.5 days (71.5) for cholecystectomy. Only 32% (n = 34) of patients with mild disease underwent cholecystectomy during the index admission or within 2 weeks. When grouped by admitting speciality, patients admitted initially under hepatobiliary surgery waited significantly fewer days for definitive treatment compared with other specialities (P < 0.0001). Twenty-one patients (19.8%) re-presented with gallstone-related pathology prior to undergoing cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Only 32.1% were treated as per BSG guidelines. About 19.8% (n = 21) of the patients suffered further morbidity as a result of a delayed operation and there is a clear difference between admitting speciality and the median time to operation.

Comparison of clinical safety and outcomes of early versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis

Objective. To compare the clinical safety and outcomes of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Methods. Pertinent studies were selected from the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases, references from published articles, and reviews. Seven randomized controlled trials (early laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy) were selected. Conventional meta-analysis according to Cochrane Collaboration was used for the pooling of the results. Results. Seven trials with 1106 patients were included. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of bile duct injury (Peto odds ratio 0.49 (95% confidence interval 0.05 to 4.72); P = 0.54) or conversion to open cholecystectomy (risk ratio 0.91 (95% confidence interval 0.69 to 1.20); P = 0.50). The total hospital stay was shorter by 4 days for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (mean difference −4.12 (95% confidence interval −5.22 to −3.03) days; P < 0.00001). Conclusion. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis is safe and shortens the total hospital stay.

Early versus delayed surgery for acute cholecystitis as an applied treatment strategy when assessed in a population-based cohort

BACKGROUND

The aims of this study were to describe the surgical management of acute cholecystitis (AC) in a well-defined population-based patient cohort, in particular adherence to and outcome of the early open/laparoscopic cholecystectomy (EC/ELC) strategy.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients residing in Stockholm County who were treated for AC during 2003 and 2008 were reviewed according to a standardized protocol.

RESULTS

In 2003, 799 patients were admitted 850 times for AC, and the respective figures for 2008 were 833 and 919. The number of patients who underwent EC/ELC increased from 42.9% in 2003 to 47.4% in 2008. In multivariate regression analysis adjusting for age, gender, severity of cholecystitis, maximal CRP and maximal WBC, EC/ELC was associated with shorter operation time but higher perioperative blood loss when compared to delayed open/laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DC/DLC). The odds ratio for completing the procedure laparoscopically was significantly higher in DC/DLC when adjusting for the same covariates. There were no significant differences in peri- or postoperative complications between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Strategies should be implemented in order to secure a more evidence-based approach to the surgical treatment of AC.

An acute care surgery dilemma: emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients on aspirin therapy

BACKGROUND

The current literature regarding hemorrhagic complications in patients on long-term antiplatelet therapy undergoing emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy is limited. The aim of our study was to describe hemorrhagic complications in patients on prehospital aspirin (ASP) therapy undergoing emergent cholecystectomy.

METHODS

We performed a 1-year retrospective analysis of our prospectively maintained acute care surgery database. The 2 groups (ASP group vs No ASP group) were matched in a 1:1 ratio for age, sex, previous abdominal surgeries, and comorbidities. Primary outcome measures were intraoperative hemorrhage, postoperative anemia, need for blood transfusion, and conversion to open cholecystectomy. Intraoperative hemorrhage was defined as intraoperative blood loss of ≥ 100 mL; postoperative anemia was defined by ≥ 2 g/dL drop in hemoglobin.

RESULTS

A total of 112 (ASP: 56, no ASP: 56) patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 65.9 ± 10 years, and 50% were male. There was no difference in age (P = .9), sex (P = .9), and comorbidities (P = .7) between the 2 groups. There was no difference in intraoperative blood loss >100 mL (P = .5), postoperative anemia (P = .8), blood transfusion requirement (P = .9), and conversion to open surgery (P = .7) between patients on American Society of Anesthesiologists therapy and patients not on American Society of Anesthesiologists therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure in patients on long-term ASP. Prehospital use of ASP as an independent factor should not be used to delay emergent cholecystectomy.