Clipless versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Risk identification and technical modifications reduce the incidence of post-cholecystectomy bile leakage: analysis of 5675 laparoscopic cholecystectomies

PURPOSE

The main sources of post-cholecystectomy bile leakage (PCBL) not involving major duct injuries are the cystic duct and subvesical/hepatocystic ducts. Of the many studies on the diagnosis and management of PCBL, few addressed measures to avoid this serious complication. The aim of this study was to examine the causes and mechanisms leading to PCBL and to evaluate the effects of specific preventative strategies.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of 5675 consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies was analysed. Risk factors for post-cholecystectomy bile leakage were identified and documented and technical modifications and strategies were adopted to prevent this complication. The incidence, causes and management of patients who suffered bile leaks were studied and their preoperative characteristics, operative data and postoperative outcomes were compared with patients where potential risks were identified and PCBL avoided and with the rest of the series.

RESULTS

Twenty-five patients (0.4%) had PCBL (7 expected and less than half requiring reintervention): 11 from cystic ducts (0.2%), 3 from subvesical ducts (0.05%) and 11 from unconfirmed sources (0.2%). The incidence of cystic duct leakage was significantly lower with ties (0.15%) than with clips (0.7%). Fifty-two percent had difficulty grades IV or V, 36% had empyema or acute cholecystitis and 16% had contracted gallbladders. Twelve patients required 17 reinterventions before PCBL resolved; 7 percutaneous drainage, 6 ERCP and 4 relaparoscopy. The median hospital stay was 17 days with no mortality. Hepatocystic ducts were encountered in 72 patients (1.3%) and were secured with loops (54.2%), ties (25%) or sutures (20.8%) with no PCBL. Eighteen sectoral ducts were identified and secured.

CONCLUSION

Ligation of the cystic duct reduces the incidence of PCBL resulting from dislodged endoclips. Careful blunt dissection in the proper anatomical planes avoiding direct or thermal injury to subvesical and sectoral ducts and a policy of actively searching for hepatocystic ducts during gallbladder separation to identify and secure them can reduce bile leakage from such ducts.

The Outcomes of the Patients Undergoing Harmonic Scalpel Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has replaced conventional open cholecystectomy and has become the gold standard surgery for gall bladder pathologies. The harmonic scalpel is one of the instruments used to dissect and coagulate. Most surgeons accept the usage of the harmonic scalpel in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The other standard method is electrocoagulation by electrocautery. The harmonic scalpel cholecystectomy has several advantages over other methods of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Electrocoagulation by electrocautery produces smoke which can result in damage to lateral tissues, including the gall bladder. The clips are used along with electrocoagulation to seal cystic duct and cystic artery before dissection. There are various studies about bile leakage in the case of clip application. The harmonic scalpel uses ultrasonic energy to achieve hemostasis without bleeding, dissection, and gallbladder removal from the liver bed during laparoscopic surgery by causing coagulation of proteins. The patient outcome variables such as postoperative pain, duration of hospital stay, postoperative nausea and vomiting, surgical site infections, and other complications have not been compared in review articles. In this review, we collected the information from previously published studies and reviewed the outcomes of patients undergoing harmonic scalpel cholecystectomy. Harmonic scalpel cholecystectomy reduces the duration of hospital stay, duration of operation, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and postoperative pain. Thus the harmonic scalpel can be used instead of other instruments as it has better patient outcomes.

Is the rate of bile leak higher in clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared to conventional cholecystectomy?

A best evidence topic has been constructed using a described protocol. The three-part question addressed was: In patients undergoing cholecystectomy is the clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with higher risk of bile leak compared to conventional cholecystectomy?

The search has been devised and 6 studies were deemed to be suitable to answer the question. The outcome assessed was the rate of bile leak in clipless cholecystectomy compared to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Authors found that the rates of bile leak in clipless laparoscopic cholecystectomy is comparable to conventional technique. Clipless cholecystectomy is feasible and safe.

A comparative study of ultrasonic scalpel (US) versus conventional metal clips for closure of the cystic duct in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC): A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard surgery for benign gallbladder diseases. Metal clips are conventionally used to secure the cystic duct and artery, while monopolar electrocautery (ME) predominates during laparoscopic dissection. ultrasonic scalpel (US) has already been explored for sealing the cystic duct and artery as a sole instrument, which has been regarded as a reasonable alternative to clips. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of US versus clips for securing the cystic duct during LC.

METHODS

We identified eligible studies in PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and SpringerLink up to 1st May 2018, together with the reference lists of original studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 14.0. Q-based chi-square test and the I statistics were utilized to assess heterogeneity among the included studies. A P-value below .05 was set for statistical significance. Forest plots of combined Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were also generated.

RESULTS

Eight studies met eligibility criteria in this meta-analysis eventually. A total of 1131 patients were included, of whom 529 were contained in the US group, compared to 602 in the clips group, which showed a significant difference (P = .025) without substantial statistical heterogeneity (I = 0.0%). No statistical significance was revealed regarding age (I = 0.0%, P = .957), and sex (I = 0.0%, P = .578) between both groups. The operative time and hospital stay in the US group were significantly shorter than that in the clips group, with I = 95.0%, P = .000 and I = 72.8%, P = .005, respectively. Concerning conversion (I = 48.6%, P = .084), perforation (I = 12.0%, P = .338), along with bile leakage (I = 0.0% P = .594), and overall morbidity (I = 19.1%, P = .289), comparison between both groups exhibited no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

US enabled shorter operative time and hospital stay during LC, compared with clips. Additionally, US was comparable to clips regarding conversion, perforation, along with bile leakage and overall morbidity. Therefore, our meta-analysis concluded that US is clinically superior to the conventional clips in some aspects, or is at least as safe and effective as them, concerning closure of the cystic duct and artery.

Intrabiliary Migrated Clips and Coils as a Nidus for Biliary Stone Formation: A Rare Complication following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Clips inserted during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) may migrate into the biliary system and function as a nidus for the formation of gallstones. Here, we present a series of 4 patients who presented with this rare complication 5–17 years after LC. All 4 patients presented with symptomatic choledocholithiasis with biochemical and radiological signs of biliary obstruction. Three patients also had fever and infectious parameters, compatible with concurrent cholangitis. All patients successfully underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with papillotomy and stone extraction. Patients with cholangitis also had antibiotic treatment. In 3 patients, obstruction of the common bile duct was caused by a single, relatively large stone that had formed around a clip (supposedly the cystic duct clip). In 1 patient, multiple stones had formed around an intrabiliary migrated cluster of coils that had been used for arterial embolization of a pseudo-aneurysm of the right hepatic artery. In conclusion, surgical clips and coils can migrate into the biliary tract and serve as a nidus for the formation of bile duct stones. Although rare, this complication should caution surgeons not to place clips “at random” during cholecystectomy. Patients with this rare complication are best managed by ERCP in combination with sphincterotomy and stone extraction.

Systematic review of cystic duct closure techniques in relation to prevention of bile duct leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

AIM

To study the effect of different techniques of cystic duct closure on bile leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for biliary disease.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane and EMBASE was performed. Rate of cystic duct leakage (CDL) was the primary outcome. Risk of bias was evaluated. Odds ratios were analyzed for comparison of techniques and pooled event rates for non-comparative analyses. Pooled event rates were compared for each of included techniques.

RESULTS

Out of 1491 articles, 38 studies were included. A total of 47491 patients were included, of which 38683 (81.5%) underwent cystic duct closure with non-locking (metal) clips. All studies were of low-moderate methodological quality. Only two studies reported separate data on uncomplicated and complicated gallbladder disease. For overall CDL, an odds ratio of 0.4 (95%CI: 0.06-2.48) was found for harmonic energy vs clip closure and an odds ratio of 0.17 (95%CI: 0.03-0.93) for locking vs non-locking clips. Pooled CDL rate was around 1% for harmonic energy and metal clips, and 0% for locking clips and ligatures.

CONCLUSION

Based on available evidence it is not possible to either recommend or discourage any of the techniques for cystic duct closure during LC with respects to CDL, although data point out a slight preference for locking clips and ligatures vs other techniques. No separate recommendation can be made for complicated gallbladder disease.

Harmonic Scalpel versus Monopolar Electrocauterization in Cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) using surgical electrocautery is considered to be the gold standard procedure for the treatment of uncomplicated cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the Harmonic scalpel, an advanced laparoscopic technique associated with less thermal damage in LC, when compared to electrocautery.

METHODS

From October 2010 through June 2013, a total of 198 patients were randomly allocated to LC with a Harmonic scalpel (experimental group, 117 patients) or conventional monopolar electrocautery (control group, 81 patients). The main outcome measures were operative time, blood loss, conversion to laparotomy, postoperative hospital stay, post-LC pain, and cost effectiveness.

RESULTS

The 2 groups were comparable with respect to baseline patient characteristics. When compared to conventional monopolar electrocautery, there were no significant reductions in the operative time, bleeding, frequency of conversion to laparotomy, and duration of postoperative recovery with the Harmonic scalpel (P > .05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using conventional monopolar electrocautery is as effective and safe as that with the Harmonic scalpel, for treating uncomplicated cholecystitis and cholelithiasis.

Total clipless cholecystectomy by means of harmonic sealing

Background

In traditional laparoscopic cholecistectomy, the cystic duct and artery are commonly closed by metallic clips just before their division. Although the placement of these clips for occluding cystic artery and duct can be considered safe, biliary leaks and bleeding may occur especially by its dislodgement.

Aim

To report a prospective case-series in total clipless cholecystectomy by means of harmonic shears for closure and division of the artery and cystic duct as well removal of the gallbladder from the liver.

Methods

Was evaluate a series of 125 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy where the sealing and division of cystic artery and duct was carried out only by harmonic shears. The intact extracted gallbladder was submitted to a reverse pressure test for assessment of the technique safety by means of CO₂ insuflation.

Results

The most common indication for surgery was gallstones. The mean operative time was 26 min and all gallbladders were dissected intact from the liver bed. There was no mortality and the overall morbidity rate was 0.8% with no hemorrhage or leaks. The reverse pressure test showed that all specimens support at least 36-mmHg of pressure without leaking.

Conclusions

The harmonic shears is effective and safe in laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a sole instrument for sealing and division of the artery and cystic duct. The main advantages could be related to the safety and decreased operative time.

Radiofrequency-induced small bowel thermofusion: an ex vivo study of intestinal seal adequacy using mechanical and imaging modalities

BACKGROUND

Bipolar radiofrequency (RF) induced tissue fusion is believed to have the potential to seal and anastomose intestinal tissue thereby providing an alternative to current techniques which are associated with technical and functional complications. This study examines the mechanical and cellular effects of RF energy and varying compressive pressures when applied to create ex vivo intestinal seals.

METHODS

A total of 299 mucosa-to-mucosa fusions were formed on ex vivo porcine small bowel segments using a prototype bipolar RF device powered by a closed-loop, feedback-controlled RF generator. Compressive pressures were increased at 0.05 MPa intervals from 0.00 to 0.49 MPa and RF energy was applied for a set time period to achieve bowel tissue fusion. Seal strength was subsequently assessed using burst pressure and tensile strength testing, whilst morphological changes were determined through light microscopy. To further identify the subcellular tissue changes that occur as a result of RF energy application, the collagen matrix in the fused area of a single bowel segment sealed at an optimal pressure was examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

An optimal applied compressive pressure range was observed between 0.10 and 0.25 MPa. Light microscopy demonstrated a step change between fused and unfused tissues but was ineffective in distinguishing between pressure levels once tissues were sealed. Non uniform collagen damage was observed in the sealed tissue area using TEM, with some areas showing complete collagen denaturation and others showing none, despite the seal being complete. This finding has not been described previously in RF-fused tissue and may have implications for in vivo healing.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that both bipolar RF energy and optimal compressive pressures are needed to create strong intestinal seals. This finding suggests that RF fusion technology can be effectively applied for bowel sealing and may lead to the development of novel anastomosis tools.