External validation of the Cairns Prediction Model (CPM) to predict conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy

Can open cholecystectomy be taught by cadaveric simulation?

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the current standard of treatment for surgical gallbladder removal as it has an overall improved post-operative recovery compared to Open Cholecystectomy (OC). This has resulted in the loss of exposure to surgical trainees and the associated technical skills and decision-making required to convert to OC. The aim of this study is to provide construct validity to the proposition that cadaveric simulation can be used successfully to teach and learn open cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Participants (n = 25) were surveyed on a 9-point questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale to determine their opinion on cadaveric simulation as a tool for teaching OC.

RESULTS

Overall respondents deemed the tool as highly translatable. There was no significant correlation in the responses between candidates versus tutors (P = 0.05, r = 0.51).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome of the survey revealed that participants agreed that cadaveric simulation is a positive learning tool to aid in OC.

Analysis of the sonographic predictors of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy in symptomatic cholelithiasis

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the most common laparoscopic procedures performed by young surgeons nowadays. Sometimes, LC could be challenging, especially for junior surgeons leading to serious complications. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the preoperative ultrasonographic features that could predict difficult LC.

METHODS

In this prospective study, patients (n = 204) who underwent LC for symptomatic cholelithiasis from January 2020 to August 2022 were included. Preoperative parameters, including the ultrasonographic findings, were evaluated for their ability to predict difficult LC.

RESULTS

The difficulty of LC was evaluated using two intraoperative scores. Among the ultrasonic parameters that were assessed preoperatively, thickened gallbladder (GB) wall, contracted GB, and impacted stone in the GB neck were associated with difficult LC. However, an impacted stone in the GB neck was the only independent predictor of difficult LC according to both difficulty scores in the multivariate analysis (odds ratio [OR] = 7.56, p = .001; OR = 8.42, p = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The impacted stone in the GB neck is an ultrasonographic sign of difficult LC. It should alert the surgeon for a more appropriate preoperative preparation, and the patient should be informed about the increased risk of complications, including conversion to open cholecystectomy.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Conversion from Laparoscopic to Open Cholecystectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard treatment for patients with gallstones in the gallbladder. However, multiple risk factors affect the probability of conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy to open surgery. A greater understanding of the preoperative factors related to conversion is crucial to improve patient safety. In the present systematic review, we summarized the current knowledge about the main factors associated with conversion. Next, we carried out several meta-analyses to evaluate the impact of independent clinical risk factors on conversion rate. Male gender (OR = 1.907; 95%CI = 1.254−2.901), age > 60 years (OR = 4.324; 95%CI = 3.396−5.506), acute cholecystitis (OR = 5.475; 95%CI = 2.959−10.130), diabetes (OR = 2.576; 95%CI = 1.687−3.934), hypertension (OR = 1.931; 95%CI = 1.018−3.662), heart diseases (OR = 2.947; 95%CI = 1.047−8.296), obesity (OR = 2.228; 95%CI = 1.162−4.271), and previous upper abdominal surgery (OR = 3.301; 95%CI = 1.965−5.543) increased the probability of conversion. Our analysis of clinical factors suggested the presence of different preoperative conditions, which are non-modifiable but could be useful for planning the surgical scenario and improving the post-operatory phase.

Statistical models to preoperatively predict operative difficulty in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty is highly variable and influences outcomes. This systematic review analyzes the performance and clinical value of statistical models to preoperatively predict laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty.

METHODS

PRISMA guidelines were followed. PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched until June 2020. Primary studies developing or validating preoperative models predicting laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty in cohorts of >100 patients were included. Studies not reporting performance metrics or enough information for clinical implementation were excluded. Data were extracted according to CHARMS, and study quality was assessed using the PROBAST tool.

RESULTS

In total, 2,654 articles were identified, and 22 met eligibility criteria. Eighteen were model development, whereas 4 were validation studies. Eighteen studies were at high risk of bias. However, 11 studies showed low concern for applicability. Identified models predict 9 definitions of laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty, the most common being conversion to open surgery and operating time. The most validated models predict an intraoperative difficulty scale and procedures >90 minutes with an area under the curve of >0.70 and >0.76, respectively. Commonly used predictors include demographic variables such as age and gender (9/18 models) and ultrasound findings such as gallbladder wall thickness (11/18). Clinical implementation was never studied.

CONCLUSION

There is a longstanding interest in estimating laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty. Models to preoperatively predict laparoscopic cholecystectomy operative difficulty have generally good performance and seem applicable. However, an unambiguous definition of operative difficulty, validations, and clinical studies are needed to implement patients' stratification in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Anatomic variations of the extrahepatic biliary tree. A monocentric study and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

The study of the anatomy of the extra hepatic bile ducts has demonstrated the existence of a significant number of variants which can be explained by hepato-biliary embryology. A good knowledge of this anatomy is essential for the interpretation of radiological examinations, and for a good practice of hepato-biliary and pancreatic surgery. Several imaging methods are used to study the anatomy of the bile ducts, including classical cholangiography, which is still practiced and very useful.

AIM

To study the modal anatomy (the most frequent) and the anatomical variants of the extrahepatic bile ducts through the interpretation of postoperative cholangiograms and to examine their implication on the surgical practice.

METHODS

This is a monocentric, retrospective observational study. It concerned any patient who underwent hepato-biliary or pancreatic surgery at the Department of General and Digestive Surgery of Farhat Hached University Hospital of Sousse between 2007 and 2016, and who received postoperative cholangiography. A data form was fulfilled for each patient.

RESULTS

Out of a total population of 293 patients, we identified 158 patients (53.9%) with anatomic variants of the extrahepatic bile ducts. The common bile duct was modally implanted in the second duodenum in 96.2% of cholangiographies and in the genu inferius in 3.8% of cases. The main pancreatic duct had a V-shaped implantation in 87.1% of cholangiograms, a U-shaped implantation in 4.2% of cases and a Y-shaped implantation in 7.1% of cases. The common bile duct had a modal aspect in 71.3% of cholangiograms, with 28.7% of anatomic variants, organized in 4 models. The cystic duct had a modal presentation in 80.9% of cases, and we recorded 6 other branching models (19.1% of cases). No significant difference was observed between the presence of anatomic variants on the one hand, and age, sex, conversion rate, intraoperative incidents, postoperative complications, postoperative hospital stay and overall hospital stay on the other hand.

CONCLUSION

Conventional cholangiography constitutes a more or less precise tool for detecting these anatomic variants and is therefore very useful in the practice of hepato-biliary surgery even after the advent of new techniques in this field. However, it also requires a more extensive and in-depth knowledge of these anatomic variants, which nevertheless remain quite frequent, and represent a source of surgical difficulties.

Laparoscopic Ultrasound and Safe Navigation Around the Shrunken Gallbladder

Background: The contracted gallbladder may predispose to a higher rate of biliary or vasculobiliary injury (VBI). It is usually associated with unclear anatomy due to chronic inflammation and fibrosis in the hepatoduodenal ligament region. Laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) can very effectively delineate anatomical conditions during cholecystectomy. Our study aimed to compare the visual and ultrasonographic navigation around the shrunken gallbladder. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 612 patients qualified for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The shrunken gallbladder was diagnosed intraoperatively in 13 patients (2.1%). In 6 patients, the only intraoperative navigation method was a visual evaluation of anatomical conditions, and in 7 patients, the method was LUS. Results: The operating time and the length of hospital stay after surgery were significantly lower, the number of conversions was insignificantly lower, and the number of successful visualization of anatomical conditions was significantly higher in the LUS group. We did not observe any bile duct and VBI in patients with the shrunken gallbladder. Conclusions: The combination of the fundus-first and subtotal cholecystectomy with LUS navigation might be an effective proposal when coming across the shrunken gallbladder.

Management of post-cholecystectomy bile duct injuries without operative mortality at Jakarta tertiary hospital in Indonesia - A cross-sectional study

Background

Bile duct injuries (BDI) can occur after a cholecystectomy procedure performed by any surgeons. These ensured a poor experience for patients and surgeons and marred the minimally invasive surgery approach, which should have promised rapid recovery. This study aimed to evaluate the management of BDI following cholecystectomy procedure in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, as a tertiary hospital.

Method

Descriptive retrospective cross-sectional design was used on open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed between January 2008 and December 2018. This study is reported in line with STROCSS 2019 Criteria.

Result

A total of 24 patients with BDI were included, with female preponderance (62,5%) with a median age 45 (21–58) years. Sixteen post-laparoscopy cases were classified according to Strasberg classification; 6 cases were type E3, 2 cases each of type E1 and E2, and one case each of Strasberg C and D. The remaining 4 were Strasberg A. Eight post-open cases were classified based on Bismuth criteria: 4 cases of Bismuth I, 1 case of Bismuth II, and 3 cases of Bismuth III. Five cases were presented with massive biloma, 7 with jaundice, and 10 cases with biliary-pancreatic fluid production through the surgical drain. The average time of problem recognition to patient's admission was 19 (7–152) days and admission to surgery was 14 days. Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy was performed in 18 cases, choledocho-duodenostomy in 2 cases, and primary ligation cystic duct in 4 cases. Post-operative follow-up showed 2 patients had recurrent cholangitis, 2 superficial surgical site infection, and 2 relaparotomy due to bile anastomosis leakage and burst abdomen. The median length of hospital stay was 38 (14–53) days with zero hospital mortality. No stricture detected in long term follow-up.

Conclusion

Common bile duct was the most frequent site of BDI, and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy reconstruction performed by HPB surgeons on high volume center results in a good outcome.

•

The common bile duct was the most frequent site of BDI

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Reconstruction of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy side-to-side by HPB surgeons on high volume center results in a good outcome with zero operative mortality

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One third of BDI cases referred to our center occurred after open approach. This data can be used as an information for evaluation of General Surgery Training Program in order to improve learning curve thus reduce rate of iatrogenic injury in open cholecystectomy

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Delay of treatment and reconstruction mostly in intermediate phase (2–12 weeks after event) can be advantageous for patients with optimal preoperative support.

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It is essential to evaluate the surgical difficulty appropriately and standardize treatment strategies to reduce serious complications.

Intra-operative gallbladder scoring predicts conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy: a WSES prospective collaborative study

Introduction

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gold-standard approach for cholecystectomy, has surprisingly variable outcomes and conversion rates. Only recently has operative grading been reported to define disease severity and few have been validated. This multicentre, multinational study assessed an operative scoring system to assess its ability to predict the need for conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.

Methods

A prospective, web-based, ethically approved study was established by WSES with a 10-point gallbladder operative scoring system; enrolling patients undergoing elective or emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2016 and December 2017. Gallbladder surgery was considered easy if the G10 score < 2, moderate (2 ≦ 4), difficult (5 ≦ 7) and extreme (8 ≦ 10). Demographics about the patients, surgeons and operative procedures, use of cholangiography and conversion rates were recorded.

Results

Five hundred four patients, mean age 53.5 (range 18-89), were enrolled by 55 surgeons in 16 countries. Surgery was performed by consultants in 70% and was elective in (56%) with a mean operative time of 78.7 min (range 15-400). The mean G10 score was 3.21, with 22% deemed to have difficult or extreme surgical gallbladders, and 71/504 patients were converted. The G10 score was 2.98 in those completed laparoscopically and 4.65 in the 71/504 (14%) converted. (p <  0.0001; AUC 0.772 (CI 0.719-0.825). The optimal cut-off point of 0.067 (score of 3) was identified in G10 vs conversion to open cholecystectomy. Conversion occurred in 33% of patients with G10 scores of ≥ 5. The four variables statistically predictive of conversion were GB appearance-completely buried GB, impacted stone, bile or pus outside GB and fistula.

Conclusion

The G10 operative scores provide simple grading of operative cholecystectomy and are predictive of the need to convert to open cholecystectomy. Broader adaptation and validation may provide a benchmark to understand and improve care and afford more standardisation in global comparisons of care for cholecystectomy.

Selective Cholecystectomy: using an evidence-based prediction model to plan for cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Symptomatic gall stones are treated safely and efficiently with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Conversion to open cholecystectomy may be associated with adverse outcomes. Accurate prediction of conversion should decrease the incidence of conversion and improve patient care.

METHODS

The recent literature on conversion at laparoscopic cholecystectomy is reviewed to identify robust prediction models that are both internally and externally validated.

RESULTS

Two prediction models are identified which meet these criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

The Cairns Prediction Model using nomograms, is an easily applied tool predicting conversion, which is presently in use. Routine use of this tool should decrease conversion, and improve the process of patient consent.