Minimally invasive surgery in sickle cell disease

Clinical management of sickle cell liver disease in children and young adults

Liver involvement in sickle cell disease (SCD) is often referred to as sickle cell hepatopathy (SCH) and is a complication of SCD which may be associated with significant mortality. This review is based on a round-table workshop between paediatric and adult hepatologists and haematologists and review of the literature. The discussion was prompted by the lack of substantial data and guidance in managing these sometimes very challenging cases. This review provides a structured approach for the diagnosis and management of SCH in children and young adults. The term SCH describes any hepatobiliary dysfunction in the context of SCD. Diagnosis and management of biliary complications, acute hepatic crisis, acute hepatic sequestration and other manifestations of SCH are discussed, as well as the role of liver transplantation and haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in the management of SCH.

Introduction of paediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Scotland: a national review of incidence, outcomes and training implications

BACKGROUND

We present a national data series to determine the incidence, outcomes and training opportunities for laparoscopic cholecystectomy among children <16yrs in Scotland as performed by paediatric surgeons.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed reviewing laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed at the three children's hospitals in Scotland. Using the National Records Scotland Database mid-year population estimates; age and sex specific annual incidence rates of laparoscopic cholecystectomy were calculated between 1998-2015. Trends in the observed case mix were tested using univariate linear regression and students t-test.

RESULTS

Between 1998-2015; 141 paediatric laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed. The annual rate of cholecystectomy increased from 0.10/100,000 to 0.88/100,000 (p = 0.069). Sex specific incidences were identified; 0.00-0.90/100,000 (p = 0.098) in girls and 0.20-0.86/100,000 in boys (p = 0.28). Cholecystectomy was more frequent in girls (63%; p = 0.04). No major complications, defined as common bile duct injury or mortality were identified. Overall; 75% of cases were performed by consultants (n = 17 consultants, median = 5 cases, p < 0.05) and 25% by trainees.

CONCLUSION

We have demonstrated that despite a low national case load (8 laparoscopic cholecystectomies per year) paediatric surgeons have been able to perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy safely without major morbidity.

Selective intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children is justified

AIMS

Intraoperative cholangiograms (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy have been advocated to detect biliary anomalies and intraductal calculi. However, IOC increases operative time and patient irradiation, and therefore is not universally used. We hypothesise selective IOC may be a valuable tool in children.

METHODS

A retrospective case note review was performed of all children who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at a single institution by a single surgeon between January 2011 and March 2017. Demographics, radiological imaging, indications for surgery and IOC, and clinical outcomes were collected. Chi-Squared and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were used for comparisons.

RESULTS

Sixty-two patients were reviewed. Median follow-up was 2 months (0.1-60), and 53 (85%) had complete symptom resolution following surgery. Twenty-two patients underwent IOC. Six (27%) had anomalies undetected by preoperative imaging. IOC identified common bile duct (CBD) stones in 2 patients which were cleared at laparoscopy. One patient required subsequent ERCP for impacted stones. One patient has a long common channel and pancreatitis. Two patients have CBD strictures. These last 3 are awaiting biliary reconstruction. Presence of CBD dilatation or ductal stones on preoperative ultrasound were significantly associated with positive findings at IOC. No complications resulted from IOC. Patients who did not undergo IOC did not represent with missed anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite using multimodal preoperative imaging, IOC detected biliary anomalies requiring further treatment in 6/62 (10%) of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our data support the use of IOC in selective patients with CBD dilatation or suspicion of ductal stones on preoperative imaging.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Study of Diagnostic Test: Level III.

Cholecystectomy in English children: evidence of an epidemic (1997-2012)

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to calculate the incidence of cholecystectomy among children aged ≤ 16 in England between 1997 and 2012 and to assess trends in risk factors.

METHODS

A nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Hospital Episode Statistics Database for episodes of cholecystectomy in children aged ≤ 16 was performed. Age and sex-specific annual incidence rates were derived using Office of National Statistics mid-year population estimates. Trends in the observed case mix were tested using univariable linear regression.

RESULTS

2808 paediatric cholecystectomies were identified. The incidence of cholecystectomy increased from 0.78/100,000 to 2.7/100,000 (P<0.0001). Sex-specific incidences increased from 1.1 to 4.36/100,000 (P<0.0001) among girls and from 0.48 to 1.13/100,000 (P<0.0001) among boys. There were significant changes in case mix, with an increasing proportion of female cases (69% to 79%, P=0.02), an increase in cases of white ethnicity (48% to 77%, P<0.0001), but only a modest increase in those with a diagnosis of sickle cell anaemia (4% to 6%, P=0.02), and no significant increase in other haemolytic anaemias.

CONCLUSIONS

There has been a three-fold increase in the incidence of paediatric cholecystectomy in England since 1997, with a particular rise among white females. Although data on BMI were not available, the observed effect may be a consequence of increasing levels of teenage obesity.

Gallstone disease in children

Gallstone disease in children is evolving, and for the previous 3 decades, the frequency for surgery has increased greatly. This is in part because of improved diagnostic modalities, but also changing pathology, an increased awareness of emerging comorbidities, such as childhood obesity, and other associated risk factors. This article outlines the pathophysiology, genetics, and predisposing factors for developing gallstones and includes a review of the literature on the current and more novel medical and surgical techniques to treat this interesting disease.

Gallstones in cirrhotics revisited by a laparoscopic view

Surgical literature around 1980 has emphasized the technical challenge and the risks of cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients reporting discouraging results. The aim of this study is the retrospective analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotics. The collected laparoscopic experience of 3 surgical groups for the last 5 years is reported. Cirrhotics were classified according to Child-Pugh criteria. Postoperative complications were classified using Clavien's rules. Forty patients were recruited; 31 received successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Liver cirrhosis was preoperatively diagnosed in all Child-Pugh B (n = 11) and in 11/20 Child-Pugh A patients. Compared with 989 noncirrhotics undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, cirrhotics were similar in terms of age (59.9+/-10.3 vs. 58.1+/-10.9) and sex (male: 51.6% vs. 50.1%). Acute cholecystitis has a similar frequence in cirrhotics and noncirrhotics (3.2% vs. 4.1%, respectively). Bile duct stones and acute pancreatitis were significantly more frequent in cirrhotic patients (6.4% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001; and 6.4% vs. 0.3%, p < 0.001, respectively). Endoscopic papillotomy and stone extraction combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 2 patients. Intraoperatively, technical problems occurred in 5 (16.1%) patients: liver bed bleeding (n = 4) was significatively more frequent in cirrhotics vs. noncirrhotics (p < 0.001). Mean operative time was 90 min, range 50-180, and it was not significantly longer than in noncirrhotics (85 min, range 30-200). Conversion rate was also similar (3%). Seven patients presented 8 postoperative complications (Class II): right side lung effusion (n = 2), ascites (n = 2), temporary worsening of Child-Pugh status (n = 2), hyperosmotic coma (n = 1), and umbilical hernia (n = 1). Mean hospital stay in noncomplicated cases was the same for noncirrhotics (3+/-1). The authors suggest a more liberal use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones in selected Child-Pugh A and B patients.