Impact of Comorbidity and Prescription Drugs on Haemorrhage in Cholecystectomy

Impacts on outcomes and management of preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: for whom it should be considered?

Purpose

We evaluated the impact of preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) on patient outcomes, and found which patients should be considered for MRCP before cholecystectomy.

Methods

We performed retrospective analysis of 2,072 patients that underwent cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease from January 2014 to June 2017. Patients were grouped as CT only group (n = 737) and MRCP group (n = 1,335), including both CT and MRCP (n = 1,292) or MRCP only (n = 43). The main outcome measure was associated with complications after cholecystectomy, and the secondary outcomes were hospital stay, readmission, and events that could impact patient management due to addition of MRCP.

Results

There were no statistical differences in occurrence of intraoperative or postoperative complications or readmission rate between the 2 groups. Hospital stay was about 0.6 days longer in the MRCP group. However, MRCP group was more susceptible to complications due to underlying patient demographics (older age, higher frequency of diabetes, and higher level of the inflammatory markers). MRCP diagnosed common bile duct (CBD) stones in 6.5% of patients (84/1,292) without CBD stones in CT, and bile duct anomalies were identified in 41 patients (3.2%). Elevated γ-GT was the only independent factor for additional detection of CBD stones (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.89; P = 0.029) and subsequent biliary procedures (adjusted OR, 3.34; P = 0.018) when additional MRCP was performed.

Conclusion

MRCP is valuable for identification of bile duct variation and CBD stones. Preoperative MRCP can be considered, particularly in patients with elevated γ-GT, for proper preoperative management and avoidance of complications.

Peritoneal lavage: a simple tool to prevent bleeding during and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Bleeding remains one of the most serious complications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and can increase mortality. Even if several patient-related and intraoperative factors increase the risk of bleeding, complete hemostasis should be achieved at the end of each surgical procedure. Although irrigation is a standard step, its importance is often underestimated. This commentary highlights the efficacy of peritoneal lavage in identifying bleeding sources and the effect of saline temperature.

Post-cholecystectomy acute injury: What can go wrong?

Backgrounds/Aims

Most of the emphasis of postcholecystectomy injuries is laid on iatrogenic bilary trauma. However, they can involve a wide spectrum of injuries.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated 42 patients with postcholecystectomy injuries referred to us from July 2011 to December 2012. Based on spectrum of injuries, we proposed an algorithm of management.

Results

Injuries occurred following laparoscopy in 20 (2 converted) patients and open in 22 patients. Mean time of detection of injury was 4.32±2.33 days. The nature of drainage was bilious in 36, bile with blood in 2, only blood in 2, and enteric in 2. Nine had organ failure at presentation. Six (14%) needed re-operation. Source of hemorrhage was from right hepatic artery in three and small bowel mesentry in 1. Enteric injuries were one each to duodenum and colon. Six patient (14%) died. Advancing age and organ failure were the predictors of mortality. Persistant biliary fistula was seen in 5 (14%). Ten had lateral leaks that closed at 28.89±2.34 days. Twenty-two formed stricture which was successfully managed with definitive hepaticojejunostomy.

Conclusions

Post cholecystectomy acute injury does not limit itself to bile duct or vascular injury but it can traumatize adjacent hollow viscus or mesentery. It is important to diagnose and intervene enteric injury early. Presentation and management for such injury should be followed as per the proposed algorithm.

C-reactive Protein is an Independent Predictor of Difficult Emergency Cholecystectomy

Purpose

The objective of this study was to identify variables that predict a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in an emergency setting. The secondary aim was to devise a pathway for patients admitted acutely that required a cholecystectomy.

Methods

Patients admitted to the Emergency General Surgery Department at Nottingham, the United Kingdom that had an emergency cholecystectomy performed during the one-year period from May 2016 to June 2017 were identified. Collected data included patient demographics, clinical presentation, biochemical analysis, radiological findings, subsequent interventions, surgical data, and clinical outcome. A difficult cholecystectomy was defined as operative time >60 minutes, conversion to an open procedure, or sub-total cholecystectomy performed. 

Results

A total of 149 patients were included. Cholecystitis was the most common diagnosis (n = 86, 57.7%), followed by acute pancreatitis (n = 36, 24.1%). Fifty-five (36.9%) patients had an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) >100 mg/dL. One hundred and twenty-one (81.2%) patients who had an emergency cholecystectomy were defined as “difficult”. The overall morbidity rate was 15.4% (n = 23), and there was no post-operative in-hospital mortality. Univariate analysis showed that age >60 years (p = 0.012), underlying diagnosis (p = 0.010), presence of heart rate >90 (p = 0.027), and an elevated pre-surgery CRP >100 (p < 0.001) was associated with a difficult emergency cholecystectomy. Multi-variate analysis demonstrated that an elevated pre-surgery CRP >100 was an independent predictor of a difficult emergency cholecystectomy (p = 0.041).

Conclusions

An elevated pre-operative CRP is an independent predictor of a technically more difficult cholecystectomy in the emergency setting.