Impact of treatment policies on patient outcomes and resource utilization in acute cholecystitis in Japanese hospitals

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.

Prediction of the grade of acute cholecystitis by plasma level of C-reactive protein

Background:

Acute cholecystitis is the most common complication of gallbladder stones. Today, Tokyo guidelines criteria are recommended for diagnosis, grading, and management of acute cholecystitis.

Objectives:

We aimed to evaluate the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) at different cut-off values to predict the severity of the disease and its possible role in grading the disease with regard to the guideline.

Patients and Methods:

This is a retrospective study, analyzing 682 cases out of consecutive 892 patients with acute cholecystitis admitted to two different general surgery clinics in Istanbul, Turkey. Records of patients diagnosed with acute cholecystitis were screened retrospectively from the hospital computer database between January 2011 and July 2014. A total of 210 patients with concomitant diseases causing high CRP levels were excluded from the study. The criteria of Tokyo guidelines were used in grading the severity of acute cholecystitis, and patients were divided into 3 groups. CRP values at the time of admission were analyzed and compared among the groups.

Results:

Mean CRP levels of groups were found to be significantly different, 18.96 mg/L in Group I, 133.51 mg/L in Group II, and 237.23 mg/L in Group III (P < 0.001). Having examined CRP values among the groups, they were found to be highly and significantly correlated with the disease grade (P < 0.0001). After evaluating CRP levels according to the grade of the disease, group 2 was distinguished from group 1 with a cut-off CRP level of 70.65 mg/L, and from group 3 with a value of 198.95 mg/L. Those results were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

CRP, a well-known acute phase reactant that increases rapidly in various inflammatory processes, can be accepted as a strong predictor in classifying different grades of the disease, and treatment can be reliably planned according to this classification.

Changes in the therapeutic strategy for acute cholecystitis after the Tokyo guidelines were published

BACKGROUND

This study examined the feasibility of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) for acute cholecystitis (AC) according to the Tokyo guidelines severity grade, and analyzed the changes in the therapeutic strategy for AC after the Tokyo guidelines were published.

METHODS

A total of 225 patients were enrolled in this study. The therapeutic period was divided into two periods: before and after the publication of the Tokyo guidelines (prior to and including 2007, and from 2008, respectively).

RESULTS

Comparing the surgical strategy between ELC and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC), significant differences were found in the length of preoperative hospital stay and total hospital stay for cases of mild AC compared with moderate AC. With conversion to open surgery, postoperative complications including postoperative bile leak were not significantly different. Since ELC was performed significantly more often after publication of the guidelines, preoperative, postoperative, and total hospital stays were significantly shorter in the later period.

CONCLUSION

ELC is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for both mild and moderate AC. The Tokyo guidelines resulted in a significant increase in the performance of ELC and significantly reduced preoperative and total hospital stays without increasing intra- and postoperative complications.

Multivariate analysis of factors influencing length of hospitalization and medical costs of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in Japan: a national database analysis

Little information is available on the factors influencing length of stay (LOS) in hospital and medical costs during hospitalization associated with cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. We determined the independent factors affecting LOS and medical costs of patients who underwent cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis based on data from the Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) database. In 2008, a total of 2176 patients with acute cholecystitis were referred for cholecystectomy to 624 hospitals in Japan. We collected patient characteristics and data on treatments for acute cholecystitis using the DPC database and identified independent factors affecting LOS and medical costs during hospitalization using multiple linear regression models. Analysis revealed that early cholecystectomy was significantly associated with a decrease in LOS, whereas longer preoperative antimicrobial therapy was significantly associated with an increase of LOS: the standardized coefficient for early cholecystectomy was -0.372 and that for preoperative antimicrobial therapy was 0.353 (P < 0.001). These procedures were also significant independent factors with regard to medical costs during hospitalization: the standardized coefficient for early cholecystectomy was -0.391 and that for preoperative antimicrobial therapy was 0.335 (P < 0.001). Early cholecystectomy significantly reduces the LOS and medical costs of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, while preoperative antimicrobial therapy increases LOS and medical costs during hospitalization. These results highlight the need for health care implementations such as promotion of early cholecystectomy, appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs, and centralization of patients with cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in Japan.

Advantages of early cholecystectomy in clinical practice of a terciary care center

BACKGROUND

Despite a number of studies show the superiority of early over delayed cholecystectomy in the treatment of acute cholecystitis, there is still controversy over the time for intervention. This study aimed to assess the use of early versus delayed cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute cholecystitis in terms of complications, conversion to open surgery and mean hospital stay.

METHOD

We collected patients with acute cholecystitis treated at a referral center for a year, and retrospectively analyzed the chosen therapeutic approach, the percentage of conversion of early cholecystectomy to open surgery, appearance of surgical complications, and mean hospital stay.

RESULTS

The study included 117 patients, 44 women and 73 men, who had a mean age of 67.36+/-15.74 years. Early cholecystectomy was chosen in 31 (26.5%) and delayed cholecystectomy in 74 patients (63.2%). Of the 74 patients, 28 (37.8%) required emergency performance of delayed cholecystectomy, and 19 (25.7%) had not undergone surgery by the end of the study. While no differences were observed between early and delayed cholecystectomy in terms of surgical complications and conversion to open surgery, mean hospital stay was nevertheless significantly shorter in the early versus the delayed cholecystectomy group (8.32+/-4.98 vs 15.96+/-8.89 days).

CONCLUSION

Under the routine working conditions of a hospital that is neither specially dedicated to the surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis nor provided with specific management guidelines, early cholecystectomy can reduce the hospital stay without increase of the conversion rate or complications.

Impact of timing of bile duct interventions on resource use and clinical outcome of cholecystectomy patients in Japan

AIMS

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is increasingly used for acute cholecystitis, in conjunction with staged bile duct interventions (BDIs). However, few studies have evaluated the impact of BDI timing on costs and clinical outcomes during hospitalization. This study assessed the effects of several types of BDI and their timing on resource utilization and complications.

METHODS

A total of 13,738 cholecystectomy patients were treated for benign gallbladder diseases in 66 academic and 376 community hospitals in Japan in 2006. Variables analysed included: BDIs including endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous gallbladder or common bile duct drainage (external drainage), endoscopic sphincterotomy, clearance of choledocholithiasis (internal drainage); and length of stay (LOS), total charges (TCs), procedure-related complications, and hospital function. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the impact of LC or BDIs on LOS, TCs and complications.

RESULTS

A total of 11,690 (85.1%) patients underwent LC. Inflammation was diagnosed in 70.7% of open cholecystectomy (OC) and 42.1% of LC patients. Complications were 7.7% in OC and 5.4% in LC patients. LC was associated with reduced LOS and TCs. BDIs were performed in more OC than LC patients. Preoperative was more costly than postoperative ERCP. Postoperative external drainage was significantly associated with LOS, TCs and complications. Advantages of pre- or postoperative internal drainage were not proven.

CONCLUSIONS

External drainage should be completed preoperatively. Postoperative ERCP may be preferable for bile duct scrutiny alone. Further evaluation of the timing of cholecystectomy will determine precisely the superiority of pre- or postoperative BDIs in terms of quality of care for complicated patients.

Primary chemotherapy patterns for ovarian cancer treatment in Japan

AIMS

Evidence-based clinical practices can improve patient outcomes, especially in the area of chemotherapy. In Japan, it is not known how well physicians adhere to evidence-based chemotherapy guidelines. This study aimed to assess physician compliance with national guidelines for ovarian cancer primary chemotherapy in Japan.

METHODS

Using an administrative database, we analyzed 209 cases of surgical laparotomy without neoadjuvant chemotherapy as the primary intervention for adnexal cancer. Cases were identified across seven teaching hospitals between 2003 and 2006.

RESULTS

Of the 136 patients receiving inpatient chemotherapy, 101 cases (74%) were treated with platinum-taxane therapy. In five hospitals, platinum-taxane therapy was used in more than 75% of patients, compared to 56% and 32% in the other two hospitals, respectively. The proportion of patients receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin concomitant therapy (TC therapy) was 67%, although significant variation was noted between hospitals (range 32% to 94%, P < 0.001). Of the 91 patients receiving TC therapy, 59 (65%) were given full-dose monthly regimens, while 32 cases (35%) were treated with divided doses weekly. Weekly TC therapy was more frequently provided in hospitals with a low volume of patients receiving TC therapy. Patients under the age of 65 receiving inpatient chemotherapy were more likely to receive full-dose regimens than patients 65 or older (68% vs 43%, P = 0.005). Publication of national treatment guidelines did not appear to substantially impact chemotherapy practice patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to standardized chemotherapy was comparable to rates in European countries, although rates among hospitals differed significantly. Elderly patients were more likely to receive divided-dose regimens.

Need for criteria for the diagnosis and severity assessment of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis: Tokyo Guidelines

The Tokyo Guidelines formulate clinical guidance for healthcare providers regarding the diagnosis, severity assessment, and treatment of acute cholangitis and acute cholecystitis. The Guidelines were developed through a comprehensive literature search and selection of evidence. Recommendations were based on the strength and quality of evidence. Expert consensus opinion was used to enhance or formulate important areas where data were insufficient. A working group, composed of gastroenterologists and surgeons with expertise in biliary tract surgery, supplemented with physicians in critical care medicine, epidemiology, and laboratory medicine, was selected to formulate draft guidelines. Several other groups (including members of the Japanese Society for Abdominal Emergency Medicine, the Japan Biliary Association, and the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery) have reviewed and revised the draft guidelines. To build a global consensus on the management of acute biliary infection, an international expert panel, representing experts in this area, was established. Between April 1 and 2, 2006, an International Consensus Meeting on acute biliary infections was held in Tokyo. A consensus was determined based on best available scientific evidence and discussion by the panel of experts. This report describes the highlights of the Tokyo International Consensus Meeting in 2006. Some important areas focused on at the meeting include proposals for internationally accepted diagnostic criteria and severity assessment for both clinical and research purposes.