Damage-control laparoscopic partial cholecystectomy with an endoscopic linear stapler

A systematic review on laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy for difficult gallbladders: a lifesaving bailout or an incomplete operation?

INTRODUCTION

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSTC) is a bailout procedure that is undertaken when it is not safe to proceed with a laparoscopic total cholecystectomy owing to dense adhesions in Calot's triangle. The main aim of this review was to investigate the early (≤30 days) and late (>30 days) morbidity and mortality of LSTC.

METHODS

A literature search of the PubMed® (MEDLINE®), Google Scholar™ and Embase® databases was conducted to identify all studies on LSTC published between 1985 and December 2020. A systematic review was then performed.

RESULTS

Overall, 45 studies involving 2,166 subtotal cholecystectomy patients (51% female) were identified for inclusion in the review. The mean patient age was 55 years (standard deviation: 15 years). Just over half (53%) of the patients had an elective procedure. The conversion rate was 6.2% (n=135). The most common indication was acute cholecystitis (49%). Different techniques were used, with the majority having a closed cystic duct/gallbladder stump (71%). The most common closure technique was intracorporeal suturing (53%), followed by endoloop closure (15%). Four patients (0.18%) died within thirty days of surgery. Morbidity within 30 days included bile duct injury (0.23%), bile leak (18%) and intra-abdominal collection (4%). Reoperation was reported in 23 patients (1.2%), most commonly for unresolving intra-abdominal collections and failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography to control bile leak. Long-term follow-up was reported in 30 studies, the median follow-up duration being 22 months. Late morbidity included incisional hernias (6%), symptomatic gallstones (4%) and common bile duct stones (2%), with 2% of cases requiring completion of cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

LSTC is an acceptable alternative in patients with a "difficult" Calot's triangle.

Review of the Literature on Partial Resections of the Gallbladder, 1898-2022: The Outline of the Conception of Subtotal Cholecystectomy and a Suggestion to Use the Terms 'Subtotal Open-Tract Cholecystectomy' and 'Subtotal Closed-Tract Cholecystectomy'

Current descriptions of the history of subtotal cholecystectomy require more details and accuracy. This study presented a narrative review of the articles on partial resections of the gallbladder published between 1898 and 2022. The Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles items guided the style and content of this paper. The systematic literature search yielded 165 publications. Of them, 27 were published between 1898 and 1984. The evolution of the partial resections of the gallbladder began in the last decade of the 19th century when Kehr and Mayo performed them. The technique of partial resection of the gallbladder leaving the hepatic wall in situ was well known in the 3rd and 4th decades of the 20th century. In 1931, Estes emphasised the term 'partial cholecystectomy'. In 1947, Morse and Barb introduced the term 'subtotal cholecystectomy'. Madding and Farrow popularised it in 1955-1959. Bornman and Terblanche revitalised it in 1985. This term became dominant in 2014. From a subtotal cholecystectomy technical execution perspective, it is either a single-stage (when it includes only the resectional component) or two-stage (when it also entails closure of the remnant of the gallbladder or cystic duct) operation. Recent papers on classifications of partial resections of the gallbladder indicate the extent of gallbladder resection. Subtotal cholecystectomy is an umbrella term for incomplete cholecystectomies. 'Subtotal open-tract cholecystectomy' and 'subtotal closed-tract cholecystectomy' are terms that characterise the type of completion of subtotal cholecystectomy.

Subtotal cholecystectomy for difficult acute cholecystitis: how to finalize safely by laparoscopy-a systematic review

Background

Aim of this study was to clarify the best laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSTC) technique for finalizing a difficult cholecystectomy.

Patients and methods

A review was performed (1987–2021) searching "difficulty cholecystectomy" AND/OR "subtotal cholecystectomy". The LSTC techniques considered were as follows: type A, leaving posterior wall attached to the liver and the remainder of the gallbladder stump open; type B, like type A but with the stump closed; type C, resection of both the anterior and posterior gallbladder walls and the stump closed; type D, like type C but with the stump open. Morbidity (including mortality) was analysed with Dindo–Clavien classification.

Results

Nineteen articles were included. Of the 13,340 patients screened, 678 (8.2%) had cholecystectomy finalized by LSTC: 346 patients (51.0%) had type A LSTC, 134 patients (19.8%) had type B LSTC, 198 patients (29.2%) had type C LSTC, and 198 patients (0%) had type D LSTC. Bile leakage was found in 83 patients (12.2%), and recorded in 58 patients (69.9%) treated by type A. Twenty-three patients (3.4%) developed a subhepatic collection, 19 of whom (82.6%) were treated by type A. Other complications were reported in 72 patients (10.6%). The Dindo–Clavien classification was four for grade I, 27 for grade II, 126 for grade IIIa, 18 for grade IIIb, zero for grade IV and three for grade V.

Conclusion

In the case of LSTC, closure of the gallbladder stump represents the best method to avoid complications. Careful exploration of the gallbladder stump is mandatory, washing the abdominal cavity and leaving drainage.

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy: comparison of reconstituting and fenestrating techniques

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) is a safe bailout procedure in situations when dissection of "critical view of safety" is not possible. After the proposed classification of subtotal cholecystectomy into "fenestrating" and "reconstituting" techniques in 2016, a comparative review of the outcomes of both methods is timely.

METHODS

A literature search of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science database was conducted up to January 31, 2020 for studies that reported LSC. Studies reporting LSC only in patients with Mirizzi syndrome or xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis were excluded. Our analysis includes 39 studies with 1784 cases of LSC. We report a comparison of outcomes between reconstituting and fenestrating LSC on 1505 cases [935 reconstituting (62.1%) and 570 fenestrating (37.9%)].

RESULTS

Following LSC, the rate of open conversion is 7.7%, hemorrhage is 0.4%, bile duct injury is 0.3%, bile leak is 15.4%, retained stone is 4.6%, subhepatic or subphrenic collection is 2.9%, superficial surgical site infection is 2.0% and 30-day mortality is 0.2%. 8.8% of patients required postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), 1.1% required percutaneous intervention, and 2.2% required reoperation. Compared to reconstituting LSC, fenestrating LSC has a higher incidence of open conversion (n = 58, 10.2% vs. n = 43, 4.6%, p < 0.001), retained stones (n = 38, 6.7% vs. n = 38, 4.1%, p = 0.0253), subhepatic or subphrenic collections (n = 33, 5.8% vs. n = 13, 1.4%, p < 0.001), superficial surgical site infections (n = 18, 3.2% vs. n = 14, 1.5%, p = 0.0303), postoperative ERCP (n = 82, 14.4% vs. n = 62, 6.6%, p < 0.001), and need for reoperation (n = 20, 3.5% vs. n = 12, 1.3%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although reconstituting LSC has better outcomes, both techniques are complementary. Intraoperative findings and surgical expertise impact the choice.