Validation of TG13 severity grading in acute cholecystitis: Japan-Taiwan collaborative study for acute cholecystitis

The Role of Different Systemic Inflammatory Indexes Derived from Complete Blood Count in Differentiating Acute from Chronic Calculus Cholecystitis and Predicting Its Severity

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of the different Complete blood count-derived systemic inflammation indexes, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and neutrophil to lymphocyte × platelet ratio (NLPR) in differential diagnosing the chronic calculus cholecystitis (CCC) and the acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC), as well as determining the severity of ACC.

Patients and Methods

105 CCC and 88 ACC patients were enrolled. NLR, PLR, SII, and NLPR were evaluated in both cohorts as well as in different severity levels of ACC. The severity of ACC was determined based on the Tokyo Guidelines. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Univariate/multivariate regression analyses were conducted.

Results

The levels of NLR, PLR, SII, and NLPR were significantly higher in the ACC group compared to the CCC group. The optimal cutoff values for NLR, PLR, SII, and NLPR were determined to be 3.89, 144.7, 896.8, and 0.031 respectively. NLR>3.89 demonstrates the highest predictive capability with an AUC of 0.801 and a sensitivity of 72.73%. Multivariate analysis showed that NLR>3.89 (OR: 4.169, p = 0.004) and NLPR>0.031 (OR: 4.304, p = 0.005) were dominant in distinguishing ACC from CCC. In ACC patients, the levels of NLR, SII, and NLPR were significantly higher in the Moderate to Severe-degree ACC (MS-ACC) group than in Mild-Degree ACC (M-ACC). NLPR > 0.044 exhibited the highest predictive ability with an AUC of 0.778 and a specificity of 91.67%. Multivariate analysis showed that NLR>6.399 (OR: 10.308, p = 0.000) was a possible independent prognostic factor for accessing the severity of ACC.

Conclusion

Systemic inflammation indexes can be useful in predicting the risk of ACC and MS-ACC. NLR demonstrates the best distinguishing power and sensitivity for distinguishing ACC from CCC, while NLPR shows the best predictive power and specificity for predicting the severity of ACC.

Current status and therapeutic strategy of acute acalculous cholecystitis: Japanese nationwide survey in the era of the Tokyo guidelines

PURPOSE

This study aimed to clarify the incidence, therapeutic modality, and prognosis of acute acalculous cholecystitis and to reveal its optimal treatment strategy.

METHODS

As a project study of the Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine, we performed a questionnaire survey of demographic data and perioperative outcomes of acute acalculous cholecystitis treated between January 2018 and December 2020 from 42 institutions.

RESULTS

In this study, 432 patients of acute acalculous cholecystitis, which accounts for 7.04% of acute cholecystitis, were collected. According to the Tokyo guidelines severity grade, 167 (38.6%), 202 (46.8%), and 63 (14.6%) cases were classified as Grade I, II, and III, respectively. A total of 11 (2.5%) patients died and myocardial infarction/congestive heart failure was the only independent risk factor for in-hospital death. Cholecystectomy, especially the laparoscopic approach, had more preferable outcomes compared to their counterparts. The Tokyo guidelines flow charts were useful for Grade I and II severity, but in the cases with Grade III, upfront cholecystectomy could be suitable in some patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportions of severity grade and mortality of acute acalculous cholecystitis were found to be similar to those of acute cholecystitis, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended as an effective treatment option. (UMIN000047631).

Can sarcopenia predict poor prognosis of sepsis due to acute cholecystitis?

AIM OF THE STUDY

As sepsis is a life-threatening disease, it is important to predict the prognosis in the early stages to establish treatment plans. This study aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia, determined by the psoas muscle area, and the prognosis of sepsis due to acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

This retrospective single-center observational study included adult patients with sepsis due to acute cholecystitis who visited the emergency department between January 2016 and December 2021. The area of both sides of the psoas muscle at the L3 level was measured, and the psoas muscle index (PMI) corrected by the patient's height was calculated. Sarcopenia was determined based on PMI. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of hospital stay (LOS), and 14-day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 374 patients were included in this study. In this cohort, the lower quartile of PMI according to gender was set as the cut-off value to define sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was defined as PMI < 423 mm2/m2 for males and < 269 mm2/m2 for females. There were 94 patients in the sarcopenic group and 280 in the non-sarcopenic group. There was a significant association between sarcopenia and ICU admission (odds ratio [OR], 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-3.76), and there was also a significant association between sarcopenia and in-hospital mortality (OR, 6.40; 95%CI, 1.13-36.09). Additionally, the median LOS in the sarcopenic group (11.5 (Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2010; Kawaguchi et al., 2019; Kim et al., 2017; Ritz et al., 2021; Cox et al., 2021; Lee et al., 2018; Okada et al., 2021; Prashanthi et al., n.d.; Amini et al., 2015; Fearon et al., 2011) days) was significantly longer than the median (8 (Rosenberg, 1989, 1997; Cruz-Jentoft et al., 2010; Kawaguchi et al., 2019; Kim et al., 2017; Ritz et al., 2021) days) in the non-sarcopenic group.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with sepsis due to acute cholecystitis, sarcopenia was significantly associated with ICU admission, LOS, and in-hospital mortality.

Comprehensive assessment of the management of acute cholecystitis in Scotland: population-wide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common diagnoses presenting to emergency general surgery and is managed either operatively or conservatively. However, operative rates vary widely across the world. This real-world population analysis aimed to describe the current clinical management and outcomes of patients with acute cholecystitis across Scotland, UK.

METHODS

This was a national cohort study using data obtained from Information Services Division, Scotland. All adult patients with the admission diagnostic code for acute cholecystitis were included. Data were used to identify all patients admitted to Scottish hospitals between 1997 and 2019 and outcomes tracked for inpatients or after discharge through the unique patient identifier. This was linked to death data, including date of death.

RESULTS

A total of 47 558 patients were diagnosed with 58 824 episodes of acute cholecystitis (with 27.2 per cent of patients experiencing more than one episode) in 46 Scottish hospitals. Median age was 58 years (interquartile range (i.q.r.) 43-71), 64.4 per cent were female, and most (76.1 per cent) had no comorbidities. A total of 28 741 (60.4 per cent) patients had an operative intervention during the index admission. Patients who had an operation during their index admission had a lower risk of 90-day mortality compared with non-operative management (OR 0.62, 95% c.i. 0.55-0.70).

CONCLUSION

In this study, 60 per cent of patients had an index cholecystectomy. Patients who underwent surgery had a better survival rate compared with those managed conservatively, further advocating for an operative approach in this cohort.

Might simple peripheral blood parameters be an early indicator in the prediction of severity and morbidity of cholecystitis?

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) in evaluating disease severity and predicting clinical outcomes in patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis (AC).

Methods

A total of 186 patients with AC were evaluated retrospectively. NLR, CAR, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI), and P-POSSUM (Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity) scores were compared with AC severity grade.

Results

The rates of the grade 1 patients (group 1) and the grade 2-3 patients (group 2) were 57.5% (n = 107) and 42.5% (n = 79) according to the disease severity according to Tokyo Guidelines criteria (TG) 18/TG13, respectively. The morbidity rates determined in groups 1 and 2 were 26.7% (n = 28) and 51.9% (n = 41), respectively. No mortality was found in group 1, whereas the mortality rate in group 2 was 6.3% (n = 5). According to multivariate analysis, CAR (odds ratio [OR], 1.234; P < 0.001) and MPI (OR, 1.175; P = 0.001) were found to be associated with moderate-severe disease while CAR (OR, 1.109; P = 0.035) and P-POSSUM morbidity (OR, 1.063; P = 0.007) variables were found to be associated with the presence of morbidity.

Conclusion

We have demonstrated that CAR can be used in predicting severity of AC and that CAR is an alternative simple parameter of P-POSSUM morbidity score in prediction of morbidity in these cases. In addition to other assessment methods, these scores can provide valuable and complementary information in assessment of disease severity and prognosis in AC.

Should Procalcitonin Be Included in Acute Cholecystitis Guidelines? A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common surgical emergency. Recent evidence suggests that serum procalcitonin (PCT) is superior to leukocytosis and serum C-reactive protein in the diagnosis and severity stratification of acute infections. This review evaluates the role of PCT in AC diagnosis, severity stratification, and management. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception till 21 August 2022 for studies reporting the role of PCT in AC. A qualitative analysis of the existing literature was conducted. Results: Five articles, including 688 patients, were included. PCT ≤ 0.52 ng/mL had fair discriminative ability (Area under the curve (AUC) 0.721, p < 0.001) to differentiate Grade 1 from Grade 2-3 AC, and PCT > 0.8 ng/mL had good discriminatory ability to differentiate Grade 3 from 1-2 AC (AUC 0.813, p < 0.001). PCT cut-off ≥ 1.50 ng/mL predicted difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 76.8%). The incidence of open conversion was higher with PCT ≥ 1 ng/mL (32.4% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.013). A PCT value of >0.09 ng/mL could predict major complications (defined as open conversion, mechanical ventilation, and death). Conclusions: Current evidence is plagued by the heterogeneity of small sample studies. Though PCT has some role in assessing severity and predicting difficult cholecystectomy, and postoperative complications in AC patients, more evidence is necessary to validate its use.

Risk factors for complications in acute calculous cholecystitis. Deconstruction of the Tokyo Guidelines

OBJECTIVE

To challenge the risk factors described in Tokyo Guidelines in Acute Calculous Cholecystitis.

METHODS

Retrospective single center cohort study with 963 patients with Acute Cholecystitis during a period of 5 years. Some 725 patients with a "pure" Acute Calculous Cholecystitis were selected. The analysis included 166 variables encompassing all risk factors described in Tokyo Guidelines. The Propensity Score Matching method selected two subgroups of patients with equal comorbidities, to compare the severe complications rate according to the initial treatment (Surgical vs Non-Surgical). We analyzed the Failure-to-rescue as a quality indicator in the treatment of Acute Calculous Cholecystitis.

RESULTS

the median age was 69 years (IQR 53-80). 85.1% of the patients were ASA II or III. The grade of the Acute Calculous Cholecystitis was mild in a 21%, moderate in 39% and severe in 40% of the patients. Cholecystectomy was performed in 95% of the patients. The overall complications rate was 43% and the mortality was 3.6%. The Logistic Regression model isolated 3 risk factor for severe complication: ASA > II, cancer without metastases and moderate to severe renal disease. The Failure-to-Rescue (8%) was higher in patients with non-surgical treatment (32% vs. 7%; P = 0.002). After Propensity Score Matching, the number of severe complications was similar between Surgical and Non-Surgical treatment groups (48.5% vs 62.5%; P = 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

the recommended treatment for Acute Calculous Cholecystitis is the Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy. Only three risk factors from the Tokyo Guidelines list appeared as independent predictors of severe complications. The failure-to-rescue is higher in non-surgically treated patients.

Validation of the association of the cystic duct fibrosis score with surgical difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background: The level of surgical difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy might be predictable based on preoperative imaging and intraoperative findings indicative of cholecystitis severity. Several scales for laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been developed, but most are complex, unverified, and not widely adopted. This study evaluated the association of the cystic duct fibrosis score (range, 0–3) with surgical difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: Between July 2018 and November 2018, 163 laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases were retrospectively reviewed at a single center. Patients’ demographics, preoperative laboratory data, operation time, complications, hospital stay, and cholecystitis severity grade were investigated. We also evaluated the associations of the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 and the Parkland grading scale with the cystic fibrosis score. Results: The cystic duct fibrosis score was associated with preoperative white blood cells (<i>p</i><0.001), preoperative platelet count (<i>p</i>=0.046), preoperative total bilirubin (<i>p</i><0.004), preoperative C-reactive protein (<i>p</i><0.001), operation time (<i>p</i><0.001), cystic duct ligation time (<i>p</i>=0.002), estimated blood loss (<i>p</i><0.001), postoperative complication (<i>p</i>=0.004), open conversion (<i>p</i><0.001), and common bile duct injury (<i>p</i>=0.010). The cystic duct fibrosis score was also correlated with the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 and the Parkland grading scale (<i>p</i><0.001). The cystic duct ligation time predicted the cystic duct fibrosis score and the Parkland grading scale, but not the Tokyo Guidelines 2018.Conclusion: As a simple indicator of cholecystitis severity, the cystic duct fibrosis score can predict the surgical difficulty and outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Occlusion of the cystic duct with cyanoacrylate glue at laparoscopic subtotal fenestrating cholecystectomy for a difficult gallbladder

BACKGROUND

Subtotal cholecystectomy is occasionally the management of choice in the patient with a hostile Calot's triangle but when it is not considered safe to close the cystic duct this often leads to a biliary fistula. In order to reduce this morbidity a novel strategy to seal the cystic duct with cyanoacrylate glue was introduced. The outcome of the two strategies have been compared.

METHODS

Patients who had a laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy where the cystic duct was left open, the Unsecured group, were compared with those where the duct orifice was occluded with cyanoacrylate glue, the Glued group. The outcome of the two strategies have been compared by duration of biliary drainage, whether a leak was shown on ERCP, time to removal of the drain, length of hospital stay, the re-operation and readmission rates.

RESULTS

In 78 cases of laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy it was considered unsafe to close the cystic duct. 36 patients were managed without closure of the cystic duct, the Unsecured group and bile drainage continued for more than 3 days in 9 cases (25%) compared with 3 of 42 cases (7%) treated with glue, the Glued group (NS). Postoperative ERCP demonstrated a leak more frequently in the Unsecured group (p < 0.02). The length of stay was reduced in the Glued group. (0.9 compared with 3.0 days, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that glue may be a safe option to occlude the cystic duct orifice and reduce hospital stay when this cannot safely be closed at subtotal cholecystectomy.

Surgical outcome of percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage in acute cholecystitis: Ten years' experience at a tertiary care centre

Background

Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) plays an important role in the treatment of elderly patients and/or patients in poor health with acute cholecystitis (AC). The primary aim of this study is to determine how these factors influence the clinical outcome of PTGBD. Moreover, we assessed the timing and results of subsequent cholecystectomies.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively examined the results of 162 patients undergoing PTGBD between 2010 and 2020 (male–female ratio: 51.23% vs. 48.77%; mean age: 71.43 ± 13.22 years). Patient’s performance status and intervention outcomes were assessed with clinical success rates (CSR) and in-hospital mortality. The conversion rate (CR) of possible urgent or delayed, elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC) after PTGBD were analysed.

Results

PTGBD was the definitive treatment in 42.18% of patients, while it was a bridging therapy prior to cholecystectomy (CCY) for the other patients. CSR was 87.97%, it was only 64.29% in grade III AC. In 9.87% of the cases, urgent LC was necessary after PTGBD, and its conversion rate was approximately equal to that of elective LC (18.18 vs. 17.46%, respectively, p = 0.2217). Overall, the post-PTGBD in-hospital mortality was 11.72%, while the same figure was 0% for grade I AC, 7.41% for grade II and 40.91% for grade III. Based on logistic regression analyses, in-hospital mortality (OR 6.07; CI 1.79–20.56), clinical progression (OR 7.62; CI 2.64–22.05) and the need for emergency CCY (OR 14.75; CI 3.07–70.81) were mostly determined by AC severity grade.

Conclusion

PTGBD is an easy-to-perform intervention with promising clinical success rates in the treatment of acute cholecystitis. After PTGBD, the level of gallbladder inflammation played a decisive role in the course of AC. In a severe, grade III inflammation, we have to consider low CSR and high mortality.

Mortality risk estimation in acute calculous cholecystitis: beyond the Tokyo Guidelines

BACKGROUND

Acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) is the second most frequent surgical condition in emergency departments. The recommended treatment is the early laparoscopic cholecystectomy; however, the Tokyo Guidelines (TG) advocate for different initial treatments in some subgroups of patients without a strong evidence that all patients will benefit from them. There is no clear consensus in the literature about who is the unfit patient for surgical treatment. The primary aim of the study is to identify the risk factors for mortality in ACC and compare them with Tokyo Guidelines (TG) classification.

METHODS

Retrospective unicentric cohort study of patients emergently admitted with and ACC during 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2016. The study comprised 963 patients. Primary outcome was the mortality after the diagnosis. A propensity score method was used to avoid confounding factors comparing surgical treatment and non-surgical treatment.

RESULTS

The overall mortality was 3.6%. Mortality was associated with older age (68 + IQR 27 vs. 83 + IQR 5.5; P = 0.001) and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (3.5 + 5.3 vs. 0+2; P = 0.001). A logistic regression model isolated four mortality risk factors (ACME): chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 4.66 95% CI 1.7-12.8 P = 0.001), dementia (OR 4.12; 95% CI 1.34-12.7, P = 0.001), age > 80 years (OR 1.12: 95% CI 1.02-1.21, P = 0.001) and the need of preoperative vasoactive amines (OR 9.9: 95% CI 3.5-28.3, P = 0.001) which predicted the mortality in a 92% of the patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve yielded an area of 88% significantly higher that 68% (P = 0.003) from the TG classification. When comparing subgroups selected using propensity score matching with the same morbidity and severity of ACC, mortality was higher in the non-surgical treatment group. (26.2% vs. 10.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Mortality was higher in ACC patients treated with non-surgical treatment. ACME identifies high-risk patients. The validation to ACME with a prospective multicenter study population could allow us to create a new alternative guideline to TG for treating ACC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Retrospectively registered and recorded in Clinical Trials. NCT04744441.

Validation of the Tokyo guideline 2018 treatment proposal for acute cholecystitis from a single-center retrospective analysis

INTRODUCTION

The revised Tokyo guideline 2018 (TG18) recommends early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) who satisfy the Charlson Comorbidity Index criteria and the ASA Physical Status Classification (ASA-PS). Our study aims to determine the efficacy of the TG18 treatment strategy.

METHODS

We enrolled 324 patients who had been diagnosed with AC according to the TG18 and who underwent cholecystectomy between 2010 and 2018. Perioperative variables and surgical outcomes were analyzed according to the TG18 treatment strategy and severity grading.

RESULTS

The Charlson Comorbidity Index and ASA-PS scores were significantly higher in patients with Grade II and Grade III AC than in those with Grade I AC. In patients with a higher severity grading, LC failed, necessitating blood transfusion and bailout surgery. Among patients treated by the TG18 strategy were a higher proportion with Grade I or II AC; their ASA-PS scores were significantly lower than patients with Grade III AC. Compared to patients not treated by the TG18 strategy, this group demonstrated significant differences in the achievement of LC, bailout surgery, postoperative hospital stays, and 90-day mortality rates. Intraoperative blood loss and blood transfusion were significantly higher in those not treated by the TG18 strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the TG18 treatment strategy is well-designed and efficacious. Given the high rate of blood transfusion and conversion surgery in treatment strategies other that TG18, special attention should be paid when selecting the optimal treatment strategy.

Acute Cholecystitis Following Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Clinical Features, Outcomes, Risk Factors, and Prediction Model

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a potentially fatal complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT); however, only limited information is available on its clinical features, outcomes, and risk management strategies. This retrospective, nested, case-control study included 6701 patients undergoing allo-HSCT at our center from January 2004 to June 2019. In total, 72 patients (1.1%) were diagnosed with AC; among these, acute acalculous cholecystitis had a slightly higher prevalence (42 patients, 58.3%). Patients with moderate and severe AC exhibited remarkably worse overall survival (P = .001) and non-relapse mortality (P = .011) than others. Survival of haploidentical HSCT recipients with AC was comparable to that for patients with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical donors. Age ≥ 18 years, antecedent stage II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease, and total parenteral nutrition were identified as potential risk factors for AC following allo-HSCT, while haploidentical transplantations were not more susceptible to AC than HLA-identical HSCT. Based on these criteria, a risk score model was developed and validated to estimate the probability of AC following allo-HSCT. The model separates all patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups and thereby provides a basis for early detection of this complication in the management of allo-HSCT.

Risk Prediction in Acute Calculous Cholecystitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Predictive Models

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the main treatment of acute cholecystitis. Although considered relatively safe, it carries 6%-9% risk of major complications and 0.1%-1% risk of mortality. There is no consensus regarding the evaluation of the preoperative risks, and the management of patients with acute cholecystitis is usually guided by surgeon's personal preferences. We assessed the best method to identify patients with acute cholecystitis who are at high risk of complications and mortality. Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies that reported the preoperative prediction of outcomes in people with acute cholecystitis. We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, WHO ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Science Citation Index Expanded until April 27, 2019. We performed a meta-analysis when possible. Results: Six thousand eight hundred twenty-seven people were included in one or more analyses in 12 studies. Tokyo guidelines 2013 (TG13) predicted mortality (two studies; Grade 3 versus Grade 1: odds ratio [OR] 5.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.79-9.26). Gender predicted conversion to open cholecystectomy (two studies; OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.06-2.39). None of the factors reported in at least two studies had significant predictive ability of major or minor complications. Conclusion: There is significant uncertainty in the ability of prognostic factors and risk prediction models in predicting outcomes in people with acute calculous cholecystitis. Based on studies of high risk of bias, TG13 Grade 3 severity may be associated with greater mortality than Grade 1. Early referral of such patients to high-volume specialist centers should be considered. Further well-designed prospective studies are necessary.

The impact of delayed source control and antimicrobial therapy in 196 patients with cholecystitis-associated septic shock: a cohort analysis

Background

Cholecystitis-associated septic shock carries a significant mortality. Our aim was to determine whether timing of source control affects survival in cholecystitis patients with septic shock.

Methods

We conducted a nested cohort study of all patients with cholecystitis-associated septic shock from an international, multicentre database (1996–2015). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine associations between clinical factors and in-hospital mortality. The results were used to inform a classification and regression tree (CART) analysis that modelled the association between disease severity (APACHE II), time to source control and survival.

Results

Among 196 patients with cholecystitis-associated septic shock, overall mortality was 37%. Compared with nonsurvivors (n = 72), survivors (n = 124) had lower mean admission APACHE II scores (21 v. 27, p < 0.001) and lower median admission serum lactate (2.4 v. 6.8 μmol/L, p < 0.001). Survivors were more likely to receive appropriate antimicrobial therapy earlier (median 2.8 v. 6.1 h from shock, p = 0.012). Survivors were also more likely to undergo successful source control earlier (median 9.8 v. 24.7 h from shock, p < 0.001). Adjusting for covariates, APACHE II (odds ratio [OR] 1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.21 per increment) and delayed source control > 16 h (OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.88–10.70) were independently associated with increased mortality (all p < 0.001). The CART analysis showed that patients with APACHE II scores of 15–26 benefitted most from source control within 16 h (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

In patients with cholecystitis-associated septic shock, admission APACHE II score and delay in source control (cholecystectomy or percutaneous cholecystostomy drainage) significantly affected hospital outcomes.

Operative complications and economic outcomes of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Recent management of acute cholecystitis favors same admission (SA) or emergent cholecystectomy based on overall shorter hospital stay and therefore cost savings. We adopted the practice of SA cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute cholecystitis at our tertiary care center and wanted to evaluate the economic benefit of this practice. We hypothesized that the existence of complications, particularly among patients with a higher degree of disease severity, during SA cholecystectomy could negate the cost savings.

AIM

To compare complication rates and hospital costs between SA vs delayed cholecystectomy among patients admitted emergently for acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

Under an IRB-approved protocol, complications and charges for were obtained for SA, later after conservative management (Delayed), or elective cholecystectomies over an 8.5-year period. Patients were identified using the acute care surgery registry and billing database. Data was retrieved via EMR, operative logs, and Revenue Cycle Operations. The severity of acute cholecystitis was graded according to the Tokyo Guidelines. TG18 categorizes acute cholecystitis by Grades 1, 2, and 3 representing mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. Comparisons were analyzed with χ², Fisher’s exact test, ANOVA, t-tests, and logistic regression; significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Four hundred eighty-six (87.7%) underwent a SA while 68 patients (12.3%) received Delayed cholecystectomy. Complication rates were increased after SA compared to Delayed cholecystectomy (18.5% vs 4.4%, P = 0.004). The complication rates of patients undergoing delayed cholecystectomy was similar to the rate for elective cholecystectomy (7.4%, P = 0.35). Mortality rates were 0.6% vs 0% for SA vs Delayed. Patients with moderate disease (Tokyo 2) suffered more complications among SA while none who were delayed experienced a complication (16.1% vs 0.0%, P < 0.001). Total hospital charges for SA cholecystectomy were increased compared to a Delayed approach ($44500 ± $59000 vs $35300 ± $16700, P = 0.019). The relative risk of developing a complication was 4.2x [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-12.9] in the SA vs Delayed groups. Among eight patients (95%CI: 5.0-12.3) with acute cholecystitis undergoing SA cholecystectomy, one patient will suffer a complication.

CONCLUSION

Patients with Tokyo Grade 2 acute cholecystitis had more complications and increased hospital charges when undergoing SA cholecystectomy. This data supports a selective approach to SA cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

The delta neutrophil index is an early predictive marker of severe acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Predicting severe acute cholecystitis (SAC) is important because the mortality rate is higher for patients with SAC than for non-SAC (NSAC) patients. We evaluated the predictive value of the delta neutrophil index (DNI), which is greater in patients with infectious and inflammatory conditions, for SAC among patients in the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

This retrospective observational study included 379 consecutive adult patients with AC admitted to the ED from January 2015 to December 2016. The included patients were classified into 2 groups (NSAC and SAC) according to the Tokyo Guidelines 2018. White blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and DNI values were assessed at ED admission.

RESULTS

The SAC group contained 28 patients (7.4%). DNI was among the early predictors of SAC and was an inflammatory marker with a significantly higher predictive value than WBC count or CRP level for detecting SAC. The predictive power of DNI was significantly higher than that of CRP when used in conjunction with WBC count, abdominal computed tomography, and clinical variables.

CONCLUSIONS

DNI measured at ED admission may serve as an early predictor of SAC.

Long-Term Management of Recurrent Cholecystitis after Initial Conservative Treatment: Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Stenting

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder stenting (ETGBS) is an effective procedure for treating high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis and severe comorbidities. However, the efficacy of ETGBS for recurrent cholecystitis (RC) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore its efficacy in patients with RC for whom cholecystectomy is contraindicated because of its high surgical risk.

METHODS

Data on 19 high-risk patients who had undergone ETGBS for RC after initial conservative therapy in our institution between June 2006 and May 2012 were retrospectively examined. The primary outcome was the clinical success rate, which was defined as no recurrences of acute cholecystitis after ETGBS until death or the end of the follow-up period. Secondary outcomes were technical success rate and adverse events (AEs).

RESULTS

The clinical success rate of ETGBS was 100%, the technical success rate 94.7%, and AE rate 5%: one patient developed procedure-related mild acute pancreatitis. The clinical courses of all patients were as follows: four died of nonbiliary disease, and the remaining 15 were subsequently treated conservatively. The median duration of follow-up was 14.95 months (range 3-42 months).

CONCLUSIONS

ETGBS is an effective alternative for managing RC in high-risk patients with severe comorbidities.

Inflammation-based prognostic scores predict disease severity in patients with acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Although several investigators have reported that inflammation-based prognostic scores can predict disease severity in patients with various inflammatory diseases, whether or not these scores are associated with disease severity in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) has not yet been fully clarified.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Two hundred and sixty-two patients with AC were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated the correlations between demographic or clinical variables, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), and the C-reactive protein/albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, as well as the disease severity grade on the basis of the revised Tokyo guidelines. Multivariate analyses were carried out to identify the clinical parameters associated with disease severity grade.

RESULTS

The NLR (P<0.0001), GPS (P<0.0001), mGPS (P<0.0001), and CRP/Alb ratio (P<0.0001) were all elevated according to the severity grade. Multivariate analyses showed that the NLR [odds ratio (OR)=3.41-4.77; P<0.005], GPS (OR=2.49; P=0.012), mGPS (OR=2.79; P=0.005), and the CRP/Alb ratio (OR=12.53; P<0.0001) were associated independently with grade II/III AC. The value of the area under the curve of the CRP/Alb ratio (continuous 0.759) or NLR (continuous 0.753) was higher than that of other inflammation-based prognostic scores for diagnosing ≥grade II AC, grade III AC, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Inflammation-based prognostic scores could predict the severity grade independently in patients with AC. These scores may play a complementary role in predicting disease severity in patients with AC in conjunction with the Tokyo guidelines severity grade.

Tokyo Guidelines 2018: diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholecystitis (with videos)

The Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13) for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis were globally disseminated and various clinical studies about the management of acute cholecystitis were reported by many researchers and clinicians from all over the world. The 1^st edition of the Tokyo Guidelines 2007 (TG07) was revised in 2013. According to that revision, the TG13 diagnostic criteria of acute cholecystitis provided better specificity and higher diagnostic accuracy. Thorough our literature search about diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis, new and strong evidence that had been released from 2013 to 2017 was not found with serious and important issues about using TG13 diagnostic criteria of acute cholecystitis. On the other hand, the TG13 severity grading for acute cholecystitis has been validated in numerous studies. As a result of these reviews, the TG13 severity grading for acute cholecystitis was significantly associated with parameters including 30-day overall mortality, length of hospital stay, conversion rates to open surgery, and medical costs. In terms of severity assessment, breakthrough and intensive literature for revising severity grading was not reported. Consequently, TG13 diagnostic criteria and severity grading were judged from numerous validation studies as useful indicators in clinical practice and adopted as TG18/TG13 diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholecystitis without any modification. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: http://www.jshbps.jp/modules/en/index.php?content_id=47. Related clinical questions and references are also included.

Validation of TG13 severity grading in acute cholecystitis: Japan-Taiwan collaborative study for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The collaborative multicenter retrospective study of acute cholecystitis (AC) was performed in Japan and Taiwan. The aim for this study was evaluation of the clinical value of TG13 severity grading for AC.

METHOD

The study was designed as an international multicenter retrospective study of AC from 2011 to 2013. Based on the data, we investigated the TG13 severity grading by analyzing the correlations between grade and prognosis, surgical procedures, histopathology, and organ dysfunction and prognosis.

RESULTS

An investigation revealed that 30-day overall mortality rate was 1.1% for Grade I, 0.8% for Grade II, 5.4% for Grade III. The mortality rate for Grade III was significantly higher than lower grades (P < 0.001). The greater the number of organ dysfunction, the higher the mortality rate (P < 0.001). However, the mortality rate varied depending on the number of organ dysfunction (3.1-25%). With respect to the surgical procedures, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed for Grade I patients (P < 0.001), and the higher the grade, the more likely open surgery would be selected (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

TG13 severity grading criteria for AC are providing great benefits in actual clinical settings. From this study, the position of each severity grade was obviously confirmed.