[Laparoscopy or laparotomy in acute cholecystitis (200 cases). Comparison of the results and factors predictive of conversion]

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Compared to the Open Procedure in Patients with Gallbladder Disease

Background  Conflicting evidence regarding the laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy outcomes in scientific literature impacts the medical decision-making for patients with gallbladder disease. This study aimed to compare a range of primary and secondary outcomes between patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy and those with open intervention. Methods  Articles published from 1993 to 2023 were explored by utilizing advanced filters of PubMed Central/Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, JSTOR, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO. The gallbladder disease was determined by the presence of one or more of the following conditions: 1) Gangrenous cholecystitis, 2) acute cholecystitis, 3) chronic gallbladder diseases, and 4) cholelithiasis. The primary end-point was mortality, while the secondary outcome included (1) bile leakage, 2) common bile duct injury, 3) gangrene, 4) hospital stay (days), 5) major complications, 6) median hospital stay (days), (7) pneumonia, 8) sick leaves (days), and 9) wound infection. Results  Statistically significant reductions were observed in mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30, 0.45, p  < 0.00001), mean hospital stay duration (mean difference: -2.68, 95% CI: -3.66, -1.70, p  < 0.00001), major complications (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.64, p  = 0.0005), post/intraoperative wound infection (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.51, p  < 0.0001), and sick leaves (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.80, p  = 0.01) in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with those with the open intervention. No statistically significant differences were recorded between the study groups for bile leakage, common bile duct injury, gangrene, median hospital stay days, and pneumonia ( p  > 0.05). Conclusions  The pooled outcomes favored the use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the open procedure in patients with gallbladder disease. The consolidated findings indicate the higher impact of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in improving patient outcomes, including safety episodes, compared with open cholecystectomy.

Posterior component separation with TAR: lessons learned from our first consecutive 52 cases

Patients with complex incisional hernia (IH) is a growing and challenging category that surgeons are facing in daily practice and represent indeed a technical challenge for most of them. The posterior component separation with TAR (PCS-TAR) has become the procedure of choice to repair most complex abdominal wall defects, including those with loss of domain, subxiphoid, subcostal, parastomal or after trauma and sepsis treated initially with "open abdomen" and in those scenarios in which the fascia closure was not performed to avoid an abdominal compartment syndrome. Most recent studies showed that the PCS-TAR represents a valid procedure in recurrent IH. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the reproducibility of the PCS-TAR, describing our experience, our surgical technique and the rate of postoperative complications and recurrences in a cohort of consecutive patients. 52 consecutive patients with complex IH, who underwent PCS-TAR at "Betania Hospital and Ospedale del Mare Hospital" in Naples between May 2014 and November 2019 were identified from a prospectively maintained database and reviewed retrospectively. There were 36 males (69%) and 16 females (31%) with a mean age of 57.88 (range 39-76) and Body mass index (BMI kg/m²) of 31.2 (24-45). More than half of patients (58%) were active smokers. Mean defect width was 13.6 cm (range 6-30) and mean defect area was about 267.9 cm². Mean operative time was 228 min. Posterior fascial closure was reached in all cases, while anterior fascial closure only in 29 cases (56%). Mean hospital stay was 5.7 days. 27% of patients developed minor complications (Clavien-Dindo grade I-II) and one case (1.9%) major complication (Clavien-Dindo III). Seroma was registered in 23% of cases. SSI was reported to be 3.8% with no deep wound infection. Recurrence rate was 1.9% in a mean follow-up of 28 months. In Univariate analysis Bio-A surface > 600 cm² and drain removal at discharge were significantly associated with major complications, while in a multivariate analysis only Bio-A surface > 600 cm² was related. Considering univariate analysis for recurrences, number of drains, SSO, Clavien-Dindo score > 2 and defect area were significantly associated with recurrence, while in a multivariate analysis no variables were related. PCS-TAR is an indispensable tool in managing complex ventral hernias associated with a low rate of SSO and recurrence. Tobacco use, obesity and comorbidities cannot be considered absolute contraindications to PCS-TAR. Peri and postoperative management of complications and drainages have an impact on short term outcomes. Based on these outcomes, posterior component separation with transversus abdominis release has become our method of choice for the management of patients with complex ventral hernia requiring open hernia repair in selected patients.

Preoperative risk factors for technical difficulty in emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

AIM

We have routinely performed emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) as soon as we diagnosed acute cholecystitis (AC), if patients could tolerate surgery. This study was conducted to identify the preoperative risk factors that predict the technical difficulty of emergent LC for AC.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with AC who underwent emergent LC between 2012 and 2019 was conducted. Technical difficulty was defined as the presence of the following conditions: open conversion, operative time ≥120 min, or blood loss ≥500 ml.

RESULTS

In all, 327 patients were included and divided into difficult LC (DLC, n = 61) and nondifficult LC (non-DLC, n = 266). Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that symptom duration ≥72 h was the only independent risk factor for DLC. Comparison of late LC (beyond 72 h, LLC) and early LC (within 72 h, ELC) showed a lower rate of creation of the critical view of safety and a longer hospital stay, as well as a longer operative time, a larger amount of bleeding, and a higher open conversion rate in LLC. However, the postoperative complication rates were equivalent.

CONCLUSION

LC for AC with symptom duration ≥72 h tends to be technically difficult. However, it is acceptable regarding operative outcomes.

2020 World Society of Emergency Surgery updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute calculus cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC) has a high incidence in the general population. The presence of several areas of uncertainty, along with the availability of new evidence, prompted the current update of the 2016 WSES (World Society of Emergency Surgery) Guidelines on ACC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The WSES president appointed four members as a scientific secretariat, four members as an organization committee and four members as a scientific committee, choosing them from the expert affiliates of WSES. Relevant key questions were constructed, and the task force produced drafts of each section based on the best scientific evidence from PubMed and EMBASE Library; recommendations were developed in order to answer these key questions. The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were reviewed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria (see https://www.gradeworkinggroup.org/ ). All the statements were presented, discussed and voted upon during the Consensus Conference at the 6th World Congress of the World Society of Emergency Surgery held in Nijmegen (NL) in May 2019. A revised version of the statements was voted upon via an online questionnaire until consensus was reached.

RESULTS

The pivotal role of surgery is confirmed, including in high-risk patients. When compared with the WSES 2016 guidelines, the role of gallbladder drainage is reduced, despite the considerable technical improvements available. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) should be the standard of care whenever possible, even in subgroups of patients who are considered fragile, such as the elderly; those with cardiac disease, renal disease and cirrhosis; or those who are generally at high risk for surgery. Subtotal cholecystectomy is safe and represents a valuable option in cases of difficult gallbladder removal.

CONCLUSIONS, KNOWLEDGE GAPS AND RESEARCH RECOMMENDATIONS

ELC has a central role in the management of patients with ACC. The value of surgical treatment for high-risk patients should lead to a distinction between high-risk patients and patients who are not suitable for surgery. Further evidence on the role of clinical judgement and the use of clinical scores as adjunctive tools to guide treatment of high-risk patients and patients who are not suitable for surgery is required. The development of local policies for safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended.

Incidence of Incisional Hernia After Emergency Subcostal Unilateral Laparotomy: Does Augmentation Prophylaxis Play a Role?

BACKGROUND

Few data are available about the frequency of incisional hernia in an emergency subcostal laparotomy. Our objective is to analyze the incidence of incisional hernia after emergency subcostal laparotomy and evaluate if prophylactic mesh could help prevent it.

METHODS

This study is a monocentric retrospective analysis following STROBE guideline statements of all patients who underwent an emergency subcostal laparotomy between January 2011 and July 2017 in our University Hospital. We compared complications and incidence of incisional hernia between patients who received sutures (Group S; N = 203) and patients with prophylactic onlay mesh (Group M; N = 80). A multivariate risk factor analysis of incisional hernia was performed. An incisional hernia-estimated risk calculator equation was created.

RESULTS

A total of 283 patients were analyzed. There were 80 patients in Group M and 203 in Group S. In short-term outcomes, length of surgery (213 ± 115 min vs 165 ± 73.3 min, P = 0.001) and hospital stay (16.4 ± 18.7 vs 11.6 days ± 13.4, P = 0.038) were longer in Group M. Long-term follow-up was conducted in 207 patients with a mean follow-up time of 39.3 ± 23 months. Incisional hernia was detected in 29 (19.1%) patients in Group S but in only two (3.8%) patients in Group M (P = 0.008). In the multivariate analysis, a risk factor analysis included wound infection (4.91 HR (2.12-11.4); P < 0.001), previous hernia repair (2.86 HR (1.24-6.61); P = 0.014), and shock (2.64 HR (1.01-6.93); P = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of incisional hernia after emergency subcostal laparotomy is high. Risk factors are wound infection, shock, and previous hernia surgery. The use of prophylactic mesh augmentation was safe and reduced the incidence of incisional hernia.

2016 WSES guidelines on acute calculous cholecystitis

Acute calculus cholecystitis is a very common disease with several area of uncertainty. The World Society of Emergency Surgery developed extensive guidelines in order to cover grey areas. The diagnostic criteria, the antimicrobial therapy, the evaluation of associated common bile duct stones, the identification of “high risk” patients, the surgical timing, the type of surgery, and the alternatives to surgery are discussed. Moreover the algorithm is proposed: as soon as diagnosis is made and after the evaluation of choledocholitiasis risk, laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be offered to all patients exception of those with high risk of morbidity or mortality. These Guidelines must be considered as an adjunctive tool for decision but they are not substitute of the clinical judgement for the individual patient.

Factor Analysis Influencing Postoperative Hospital Stay and Medical Costs for Patients with Definite, Suspected, or Unmatched Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis according to the Tokyo Guidelines 2013

Purpose. To identify significant independent preoperative factors influencing postoperative hospital stay (PHS) and medical costs (MC) in 171 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases and had definite, suspected, or unmatched acute cholecystitis (AC) diagnosis according to the Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13). Methods. The 171 patients were classified according to the combination of diagnostic criteria including local signs of inflammation (A), systemic signs of inflammation (B), and imaging findings (C): A+ B+ C (definite diagnosis, n = 84), A+ B (suspected diagnosis, n = 25), (A or B) + C (n = 10), A (n = 41), and B (n = 11). Results. The A+ B + C and (A or B) + C groups had equivalent PHS and MC, suggesting that imaging findings were essential for AC diagnosis. PHS and MC were significantly increased in the order of severity grades based on TG13. Performance status (PS), white blood cell count, and severity grade were identified as preoperative factors influencing PHS by multivariate analysis, and significant independent preoperative factors influencing MC were age, PS, preoperative biliary drainage, hospital stay before surgery, albumin, and severity grade. Conclusion. PS and severity grade significantly influenced prolonged PHS and increased MC.

Open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis. Systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become a popular alternative to open cholecystectomy (OC) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis (AC). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is now considered the gold standard of therapy for symptomatic cholelithiasis and chronic cholecystitis. However no definitive data on its use in AC has been published. CIAO and CIAOW studies demonstrated 48.7% of AC were still operated with the open technique. The aim of the present meta-analysis is to compare OC and LC in AC.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic-review with meta-analysis and meta-regression of trials comparing open vs. laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with AC was performed. Electronic searches were performed using Medline, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CCTR), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) and CINAHL.

RESULTS

Ten trials have been included with a total of 1248 patients: 677 in the LC and 697 into the OC groups. The post-operative morbidity rate was half with LC (OR = 0.46). The post-operative wound infection and pneumonia rates were reduced by LC (OR 0.54 and 0.51 respectively). The post-operative mortality rate was reduced by LC (OR = 0.2). The mean postoperative hospital stay was significantly shortened in the LC group (MD = -4.74 days). There were no significant differences in the bile leakage rate, intraoperative blood loss and operative times.

CONCLUSIONS

In acute cholecystitis, post-operative morbidity, mortality and hospital stay were reduced by laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Moreover pneumonia and wound infection rate were reduced by LC. Severe hemorrhage and bile leakage rates were not influenced by the technique. Cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis should be attempted laparoscopically first.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy with continuous pressurized irrigation and dissection in acute cholecystitis

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preliminary results of a new dissection technique in acute cholecystitis. Material and Method. One hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with acute cholecystitis were operated on with continuous pressurized irrigation and dissection technique. The diagnosis of acute cholecystitis was based on clinical, laboratory, and radiological evidences. Age, gender, time from symptom onset to hospital admission, operative risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein test levels, positive findings of radiologic evaluation of the patients, operation time, perioperative complications, mortality, and conversion to open surgery were prospectively recorded. Results. Of the 149 patients, 87 (58,4%) were female and 62 (41,6%) were male. The mean age was 46.3 ± 6.7 years. The median time from symptom onset to hospital admission 3.2 days (range, 1–6). There were no major complications such as bile leak, common bile duct injury or bleeding. Subhepatic liquid collection occurred in 3 of the patients which was managed by percutaneous drainage. Conversion to open surgery was required in four (2,69%) patients. There was no mortality in the study group. Conclusion. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with continuous pressurized irrigation and dissection technique in acute cholecystitis seems to be an effective and reliable procedure with low complication and conversion rates.

Comparison of oxidative stress status in dogs undergoing laparoscopic and open ovariectomy

The present study evaluated and compared the oxidative stress status of dogs undergoing laparoscopic or open ovariectomy. Twelve healthy female dogs were divided into two groups according to the type of the surgical procedure, laparoscopic or open ovariectomy. Plasma total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) levels for the evaluation of oxidative stress were determined. Increases in plasma TOS and OSI levels and decreases in TAS levels were observed in both groups after surgery. The TOS level was significantly lower in the laparoscopic ovariectomy group compared with the open surgery group. Laparoscopic ovariectomy is a safe and beneficial surgical alternative to traditional ovariectomy with respect to oxidative stress status in dogs.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to present our experience and results with performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis evaluating the effect of timing of surgery and the influence of the various types of gallbladder inflammation on patient outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The patients were separated in three groups according to the time between the onset of symptoms and the operation: the "early" group was defined as laparoscopic cholecystectomy completed in the first 72 h after the onset of the symptoms, the "intermediate" group from 4 to 7 days, and the "delayed" group with symptoms lasting more than 8 days.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-five patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were 115 patients who underwent "early" surgery; 70 patients underwent "intermediate" surgery, and 70 patients underwent "delay" surgery. The total number of converted cases was 32 (12.5%). There were 124 cases of acute cholecystitis, 53 cases of gangrenous cholecystitis, 27 cases of hydrops, and 51 cases of empyema. There was no significant difference in complication rate, mortality, and postoperative hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be accomplished safely in most patients with acute cholecystitis. The timing of surgery has no clinical relevant effect on conversion rates, operative times, morbidity, and postoperative hospital stay.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for severe acute cholecystitis. A meta-analysis of results

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this review was to evaluate surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gangrenous and empyematous acute cholecystitis defined as severe acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND

It is not known to what extent surgical outcomes of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for severe acute cholecystitis differ from those for the nonsevere acute form, making it questionable whether urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the best approach even in severe acute cases.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted to identify: (1) comparative studies which reported laparoscopic surgical outcomes separately for severe acute and nonsevere acute cholecystitis; (2) studies comparing such an approach with open cholecystectomy, subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomy or cholecystostomy in severe acute cholecystitis. Results were pooled by standard meta-analytic techniques.

RESULTS

Seven studies with a total of 1,408 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were found. The risks of conversion (RR 3.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 4.2) and overall postoperative complications (RR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.2) were significantly higher in severe acute cholecystitis with respect to the nonsevere acute forms. However, no difference was detected as regards to local postoperative complications. No studies comparing open cholecystectomy or cholecystostomy with urgent laparoscopy were found.

CONCLUSION

A lower feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been found for severe cholecystitis. A lower threshold of conversion is recommended since this may allow to reduce local postoperative complications. Literature data lack valuable comparative studies with other treatment modalities, which therefore need to be investigated.

Diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis: Tokyo Guidelines

This article addresses the criteria for severity assessment and the severity scoring system of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan; now the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (the JPN score). It also presents data comparing the JPN score with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and the Ranson score, which are the major measuring scales used in the United States and Europe. The goal of investigating these scoring systems is the achievement of earlier diagnosis and more appropriate and successful treatment of severe or moderate acute pancreatitis, which has a high mortality rate. This article makes the following recommendations in terms of assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis:

(1) Severity assessment is indispensable to the selection of proper initial treatment in the management of acute pancreatitis (Recommendation A).

(2) Assessment by a severity scoring system (JPN score, APACHE II score) is important for determining treatment policy and identifying the need for transfer to a specialist unit (Recommendation A).

(3) C-reactive protein (CRP) is a useful indicator for assessing severity (Recommendation A).

(4) Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scanning and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play an important role in severity assessment (Recommendation A).

(5) A JPN score of 2 or more (severe acute pancreatitis) has been established as the criterion for hospital transfer (Recommendation A).

(6) It is preferable to transfer patients with severe acute pancreatitis to a specialist medical institution where they can receive continuous monitoring and systemic management.

Diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis: Tokyo Guidelines

The aim of this article is to propose new criteria for the diagnosis and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis, based on a systematic review of the literature and a consensus of experts. A working group reviewed articles with regard to the diagnosis and treatment of acute cholecystitis and extracted the best current available evidence. In addition to the evidence and face-to-face discussions, domestic consensus meetings were held by the experts in order to assess the results. A provisional outcome statement regarding the diagnostic criteria and criteria for severity assessment was discussed and finalized during an International Consensus Meeting held in Tokyo 2006. Patients exhibiting one of the local signs of inflammation, such as Murphy’s sign, or a mass, pain or tenderness in the right upper quadrant, as well as one of the systemic signs of inflammation, such as fever, elevated white blood cell count, and elevated C-reactive protein level, are diagnosed as having acute cholecystitis. Patients in whom suspected clinical findings are confirmed by diagnostic imaging are also diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. The severity of acute cholecystitis is classified into three grades, mild (grade I), moderate (grade II), and severe (grade III). Grade I (mild acute cholecystitis) is defined as acute cholecystitis in a patient with no organ dysfunction and limited disease in the gallbladder, making cholecystectomy a low-risk procedure. Grade II (moderate acute cholecystitis) is associated with no organ dysfunction but there is extensive disease in the gallbladder, resulting in difficulty in safely performing a cholecystectomy. Grade II disease is usually characterized by an elevated white blood cell count; a palpable, tender mass in the right upper abdominal quadrant; disease duration of more than 72 h; and imaging studies indicating significant inflammatory changes in the gallbladder. Grade III (severe acute cholecystitis) is defined as acute cholecystitis with organ dysfunction.

Acute gallstone cholecystitis in the elderly: treatment with emergency ultrasonographic percutaneous cholecystostomy and interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

The treatment of acute cholecystitis in the elderly is still a subject of debate, particularly with reference to the timing of surgery and the role of laparoscopy.

PATIENTS

From January 1994 to June 2002 we observed 27 patients aged over 70 years with acute calcolous cholecystitis. The patients were submitted to ultrasonographic percutaneous cholecystostomy within 12 h of the acute attack. For two patients (7.4%) at high operative risk, we chose a conservative treatment. Twenty-five patients (92.6%) were submitted, in 15 cases (60%) within 5 days and in 10 patients (40%) within 8 days, to a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Statistical significance was accepted when the value of p was less than 0.05.

RESULTS

Ultrasonographic percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed successfully in all patients, without major morbidity or mortality, and complete resolution of clinical symptoms was obtained within 48 h. The conversion rate of laparoscopy was 20% (13.3% in patients submitted to surgery within 5 days and 30% in the group submitted within 8 days--p > 0.05). The postoperative morbidity rate was 24%; it was higher (40% versus 15%) in patients converted to laparotomy (p > 0.05); mortality was 4%. The period of hospitalization was 11 days in patients operated laparoscopically and 21 days in those converted to open cholecystectomy (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The more rational treatment of acute calcolous cholecystitis in elderly patients is represented by ultrasonographic percutaneous cholecystostomy followed, within 5 days, by laparoscopic cholecystectomy using an abdominal insufflation maximum to 12 mmHg and a limited 10-15 degrees head-up tilt.

Laparoscopy for abdominal emergencies

BACKGROUND

Emergency laparoscopic exploration can be used to identify the causative pathology of acute abdominal pain. Laparoscopic surgery also allows treatment of many intraabdominal disorders. This report was prepared to describe the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgery compared to laparotomy or nonoperative treatment.

METHODS

A panel of European experts in abdominal and gynecological surgery was assembled and participated in a consensus conference using Delphi methods. The aim was to develop evidence-based recommendations for the most common diseases that may cause acute abdominal pain.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Laparoscopic surgery was found to be clearly superior for patients with a presumable diagnosis of perforated peptic ulcer, acute cholecystitis, appendicitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. In the emergency setting, laparoscopy is of unclear or limited value if adhesive bowel obstruction, acute diverticulitis, nonbiliary pancreatitis, hernia incarceration, or mesenteric ischemia are suspected. In stable patients with acute abdominal pain, noninvasive diagnostics should be fully exhausted before considering explorative surgery. However, diagnostic laparoscopy may be useful if no diagnosis can be found by conventional diagnostics. More clinical data are needed on the use of laparoscopy after blunt or penetrating trauma of the abdomen.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to diagnostic and therapeutic advantages, laparoscopic surgery is useful for the majority of conditions underlying acute abdominal pain, but noninvasive diagnostic aids should be exhausted first. Depending on symptom severity, laparoscopy should be advocated if routine diagnostic procedures have failed to yield results.

Timing of cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To compare early with delayed cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute lithiasic cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of prospective randomized trials.

METHODS

Pertinent studies were selected from the Medline, Embase, Cancerlit, HealthSTAR and Cochrane Library Databases, references from published articles, and reviews. Twelve prospective randomized trials (9 addressing open cholecystectomy and 3 laparoscopic cholecystectomy) were selected. Conventional meta-analysis according to the DerSimonian and Laird method was used for the pooling of the results. The rate difference (RD) (95% CI) and the number needed to treat (NNT) were used as a measure of the therapeutic effect.

RESULTS

Cumulative operative and perioperative mortality and morbidity were 0.9% and 17.8%, respectively, for open cholecystectomy and 0% and 13.1%, respectively, for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The pooled RD for operative complications in early surgery was 1.37% (95% CI =-3.78% to 6.53%; p= 0.2) for open cholecystectomy and 3.11% (95% CI =-15.10% to 8.87%; p= 0.6) for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In laparoscopic cholecystectomy the cumulative conversion rate to open cholecystectomy was 21.5%. The pooled RD for conversion rate in early laparoscopic cholecystectomy was -7.99% (95% CI =-18.46% to 2.47%; p= 0.1; NNT = 13). Total hospital stay (mean +/- SD) was significantly shorter in the early surgery group (9.6 +/- 2.5 days vs 17.8 +/- 5.8 days; p < 0.0001). More than 20% of patients referred to delayed surgery fail to respond to conservative management or suffer recurrent cholecystitis in the interval period.

CONCLUSIONS

Early operation (open or laparoscopic) does not carry a higher risk of mortality and morbidity compared to delayed operation and should be the preferred surgical approach for patients with acute lithiasic cholecystitis.

Effects of Open vs. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy on Oxidative Stress

Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy is established as the treatment of choice for symptomatic cholecystolithiasis and is now proposed for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. The aim of this study is to evaluate biochemical aspects of open (OC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We measured the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the levels of nitrite+nitrate as stable end products of nitric oxide (NO). MDA and nitrite+nitrate levels were increased at both surgical procedures compared to preoperative period, but the rise was more significant in OC than LC. These results showed that both OC and LC caused an increase in oxidative stress. However LC caused significantly less oxidative stress and the changes during surgery returned to preoperative values after LC in a shorter period. The beneficial effects of laparoscopic surgery may be related, partially, to less oxidative stress in the immediate postoperative period.

Fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Fundus-first dissection (FFD) is an established technique to deal with difficult open cholecystectomies. Although the indications for such an approach are similar for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), FFD is not widely practiced because of difficulties that arise with liver retraction, the dissection of dense adhesions, or obscured cystic pedicles, often necessitating conversion to an open procedure.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for FFD and the technical aspects of the procedure in cases with a difficult cystic pedicle. Prospectively collected data and video recordings of cases of fundus-first laparoscopic cholecystectomy (FFLC) were analyzed. The great majority were difficult cases, so we also reviewed the safety aspects of this approach and assessed its effect on the conversion rate.

RESULTS

FFLC was resorted to in 35 cases (5%) of 710 consecutive LCs with difficulty grade II (two cases), III (13 cases), or IV (20 cases). There were 16 male patients (46% vs 9% males in the whole), and the mean age was 56 years (ranges, 28-87). The reasons for FFD were dense adhesions preventing the exposure of the cystic pedicle in 14 cases, large Hartmann's pouch stones in 10 cases, short dilated cystic ducts in six cases, and Mirizzi syndrome in three cases. Two cases had contracted "burn-out" gallbladders. Intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) was possible in 24 patients, failed in 10 (29%), and was not attemped in one. Seven patients had bile duct stones and required bile duct exploration. FFLC was completed in 31 patients, 28 of whom were seriously considered for conversion prior to commencing FFD. Conversion was still necessary after trial FFD in four cases (11%) two with Mirizzi abnormalities, one with bile duct stones, and one with dense adhesions. The mean operative time was 125 min, (range, 50-230). There were no operative or technique-related complications.

CONCLUSION

FFLC is feasible and is a safe option for cases with a difficult cystic pedicle. Its use reduced the conversion rate of the series from a potential 5.2% to 1.2%, However, subtotal cholecystectomy or conversion must not be delayed if, after the neck of the gallbladder is reached the anatomy is still unclear.