Assessment of Gallbladder Drainage Methods in the Treatment of Acute Cholecystitis: A Literature Review

Neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio as a predictor of conservative treatment failure in acute cholecystitis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

While early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard treatment for acute cholecystitis, conservative management remains necessary in specific scenarios such as high-risk patients or resource-limited settings. This study evaluated the predictive value of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR), a biomarker derived from routine laboratory tests, alongside established inflammatory markers and clinical parameters in identifying patients at risk of conservative treatment failure.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study at 2 tertiary centers (2020-2023), we analyzed 508 patients with acute cholecystitis who received conservative management. The study period coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic when healthcare resource constraints led to increased utilization of conservative management. Using admission laboratory data, we calculated NPAR, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and assessed Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status (ASA-PS) classification. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and logistic regression were performed to evaluate their predictive value.

RESULTS

Conservative treatment failed in 107 patients (21.1%). Risk assessment showed higher proportions of CCI ≥ 6 (32.7% vs. 22.9%; P =.008) and ASA-PS class III-IV (16.8% vs. 8.0%; P =.002) in the failed treatment group. NPAR demonstrated superior predictive performance (area under curve, 0.906 [95% CI, 0.867-0.944]) compared with NLR (0.810 [0.765-0.855]) and PLR (0.614 [0.554-0.673]). The optimal NPAR cutoff value of 21.5 showed sensitivity of 88.8% and specificity of 84.8%. In multivariable analysis, NPAR > 21.5 emerged as the strongest independent predictor (adjusted odds ratio, 19.876 [95% CI, 8.934-42.651]; P <.001), followed by fever > 37.8 °C (2.845 [1.476-5.483]; P =.002) and leukocytosis (2.234 [1.112-4.485]; P =.024). Most treatment failures (77.6%) occurred within 48 h, requiring emergency surgery (57.9%), percutaneous drainage (37.4%), or endoscopic interventions (4.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

NPAR, combined with fever and leukocytosis, provides a practical and cost-effective framework for predicting conservative treatment failure in acute cholecystitis using routine laboratory tests. Although our study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings remain valuable for any clinical setting where conservative treatment is considered. The 48-hour window for most treatment failures provides a practical timeframe for clinical monitoring and intervention decisions.

Outcomes of Gallbladder Drainage Techniques in Acute Cholecystitis: Percutaneous Versus Endoscopic Methods

Acute cholecystitis, often caused by gallstones obstructing the cystic duct, is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires timely intervention. High-risk patients, particularly those with significant comorbidities, may not be suitable candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, necessitating alternative drainage techniques such as percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) and endoscopic gallbladder drainage (EGD). This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of PC and EGD in managing acute cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, from inception to October 2024. Studies were included if they assessed the outcomes of PC versus EGD in high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis. Data extraction focused on primary outcomes such as complication rates, reintervention needs, symptom resolution, hospital stay duration, and mortality. A qualitative synthesis was conducted due to heterogeneity in the study designs. Four randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were included, encompassing a total of 238 high-risk patients. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy showed significantly better outcomes compared to percutaneous drainage in reducing major complications, reintervention rates, and recurrent biliary disease. Endoscopic drainage techniques, including naso-gallbladder drainage and gallbladder stenting, demonstrated similar clinical success rates with fewer complications than percutaneous methods, particularly in patients with concurrent biliary conditions. The findings suggest that while percutaneous drainage provides rapid symptom relief, it is associated with higher reintervention rates. Endoscopic techniques offer fewer complications and are particularly beneficial for patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. However, the choice of drainage method should be based on individual patient profiles, taking into account overall health status and comorbidities. Both percutaneous and endoscopic drainage methods are effective in managing acute cholecystitis in high-risk patients, with distinct advantages depending on patient-specific factors. Further research is needed to explore long-term outcomes and hybrid approaches that may optimize care for these patients.

Fenestrating Versus Reconstituting Subtotal Cholecystectomy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Bile Leak, Bile Duct Injury, and Outcomes

Symptoms of gallstone disease are the most common reason for cholecystectomy. Fenestration reduces the likelihood of severe inflammation or scarring after normal treatments are used, and it also enhances control over bile outflow. The goal of reconstituted cholecystectomy is to lessen symptoms like pain and jaundice without undergoing the high-risk procedures associated with more invasive procedures. The reconstituted and fenestrated procedures were assessed by a meta-analysis and systematic review. Of the five studies, 189 (34.2%) had a reconstituted subtotal cholecystectomy, and 363 (65.8%) had a fenestrated subtotal cholecystectomy, which had populations from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Turkey. Two individuals from three trials had bile duct injury, according to three studies. Whereas the fenestrated group reported no bile injury from 236 individuals (0%), the reconstituted group reported two bile duct injuries from 100 patients (2%). The incidence was found to be lower in the fenestrated group (OR 10.81; CI 95% 1.03-113.65; p = 0.39; I2 = 0%) than in the reconstituted group. Four studies revealed 92 cases of bile leaks: 19 out of 155 cases (12.3%) were reconstituted, and 73 out of 351 cases (20.8%) were fenestrated. Between the two groups, there was a significant difference in bile leakage (OR 0.72; CI 95% 0.23-2.32; p = 0.03; I2 = 66%). Two studies reported the establishment of fistulas following surgery in 58 patients in the reconstituted group (5.2%) and 120 patients in the fenestrated group (2.5%) (p = 0.56, I2 = 0%, and OR 0.65; CI 95% 0.12-3.38); however, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. Following a fenestrated partial cholecystectomy, postoperative bile leakage, fistula development, wound infection, and retained stones are more prevalent. Additionally, we saw that the fenestrated method was being used more frequently for post-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The subtotal cholecystectomy technique used should be chosen according to the surgeon's comfort level and experience with the various techniques and intraoperative findings, even if the reconstituted procedure could be preferred when feasible. To completely understand the role of each method in the general surgeon's toolkit for treating complex gallbladder (GB) patients, longer-term follow-up studies are still necessary.

Updates on Antibiotic Regimens in Acute Cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis is one of the most common surgical diseases, which may progress from mild to severe cases. When combined with bacteremia, the mortality rate of acute cholecystitis reaches up to 10-20%. The standard of care in patients with acute cholecystitis is early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Percutaneous cholecystostomy or endoscopic procedures are alternative treatments in selective cases. Nevertheless, antibiotic therapy plays a key role in preventing surgical complications and limiting the systemic inflammatory response, especially in patients with moderate to severe cholecystitis. Patients with acute cholecystitis have a bile bacterial colonization rate of 35-60%. The most frequently isolated microorganisms are Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Clostridium spp. Early empirical antimicrobial therapy along with source control of infection is the cornerstone for a successful treatment. In these cases, the choice of antibiotic must be made considering some factors (e.g., the severity of the clinical manifestations, the onset of the infection if acquired in hospital or in the community, the penetration of the drug into the bile, and any drug resistance). Furthermore, therapy must be modified based on bile cultures in cases of severe cholecystitis. Antibiotic stewardship is the key to the correct management of bile-related infections. It is necessary to be aware of the appropriate therapeutic scheme and its precise duration. The appropriate use of antibiotic agents is crucial and should be integrated into good clinical practice and standards of care.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Cholecystitis: A Comprehensive Narrative Review for a Practical Approach

Acute cholecystitis (AC), generally associated with the presence of gallstones, is a relatively frequent disease that can lead to serious complications. For these reasons, AC warrants prompt clinical diagnosis and management. There is general agreement in terms of considering early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) to be the best treatment for AC. The optimal timeframe to perform ELC is within 72 h from diagnosis, with a possible extension of up to 7-10 days from symptom onset. In the first hours or days after hospital admission, before an ELC procedure, the patient's medical management comprises fasting, intravenous fluid infusion, antimicrobial therapy, and possible administration of analgesics. Additionally, concomitant conditions such as choledocholithiasis, cholangitis, biliary pancreatitis, or systemic complications must be recognized and adequately treated. The importance of ELC is related to the frequent recurrence of symptoms and complications of gallstone disease in the interval period between the onset of AC and surgical intervention. In patients who are not eligible for ELC, it is suggested to delay surgery at least 6 weeks after the clinical presentation. Critically ill patients, who are unfit for surgery, may require rescue treatments, such as percutaneous or endoscopic gallbladder drainage (GBD). A particular treatment approach should be applied to special populations such as pregnant women, cirrhotic, and elderly patients. In this review, we provide a practical diagnostic and therapeutic approach to AC, even in specific clinical situations, based on evidence from the literature.

Ultrasound-Guided Interventions in the Biliary System

Ultrasound guidance in biliary interventions has become the standard tool to facilitate percutaneous biliary drainage as well as percutaneous gall bladder drainage. Monitoring of the needle tip whilst penetrating the tissue in real time using ultrasound allows precise manoeuvres and exact targeting without radiation exposure. Without the need for fluoroscopy, ultrasound-guided drainage procedures can be performed bedside as a sometimes life-saving procedure in patients with severe cholangitis/cholecystitis when they are critically ill in intensive care units and cannot be transported to a fluoroscopy suite. This article describes the current data background and guidelines and focuses on specific sonographic aspects of both the procedures of percutaneous biliary drainage and gallbladder drainage.