Sequential histologic evolution of gallbladder inflammation in acute cholecystitis over the first 10 days after onset of symptoms

BACKGROUND

The timing of cholecystectomy during acute cholecystitis (AC) is controversial, especially whether it is advisable to perform in patients with duration of symptoms between 3 and 10 days. The purpose of this study is to define clearly the sequential evolution of histological changes following symptoms onset to guide recommendations regarding timing of cholecystectomy.

METHODS

We identified patients with AC (2005-2018) who had cholecystectomy within 10 days of symptom onset of a first attack of AC. Histologic features of gallbladder injury including cellular and exudative inflammatory response to injury were determined on blinded pathologic slides.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-nine patients were divided into three groups; early-who underwent cholecystectomy 1-3 days after symptom-onset, intermediate-4-6 days, and late-7-10 days. Key features of injury were necrosis and hemorrhage. A subgroup of patients in the early phase developed severe necrosis and hemorrhage of an extent associated with difficult cholecystectomy. Large spikes in extent of necrosis and hemorrhage occurred at 7-10 days. Major inflammatory responses to injury were eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration and early fibrosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe necrosis may develop rapidly and be present in the early period after symptom onset of AC. Cholecystectomy may be reasonable in some patients but by day 7-10, severe necrosis and hemorrhage may be expected to be present in most patients.

Multicenter validation of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grading scale for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) patient assessment committee has created grading systems for emergency general surgery diseases to assist with clinical decision making and risk adjustment during research. Single-institution studies have validated the cholecystitis grading system as associated with patient outcomes. Our aim was to validate the grading system in a multi-institutional fashion and compare it with the Parkland grade and Tokyo Guidelines for acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

Patients presenting with acute cholecystitis to 1 of 8 institutions were enrolled. Discrete data to assign the AAST grade were collected. The Parkland grade was collected prospectively from the operative surgeon from four institutions. Parkland grade, Tokyo Guidelines, AAST grade, and the AAST preoperative grade (clinical and imaging subscales) were compared using linear and logistic regression to the need for surgical "bailout" (subtotal or fenestrated cholecystectomy, or cholecystostomy), conversion to open, surgical complications (bile leak, surgical site infection, bile duct injury), all complications, and operative time.

RESULTS

Of 861 patients, 781 underwent cholecystectomy. Mean (SD) age was 51.1 (18.6), and 62.7% were female. There were six deaths. Median AAST grade was 2 (interquartile range [IQR], 1-2), and median Parkland grade was 3 (interquartile range [IQR], 2-4). Median AAST clinical and imaging grades were 2 (IQR, 2-2) and 1 (IQR, 0-1), respectively. Higher grades were associated with longer operative times, and worse outcomes although few were significant. The Parkland grade outperformed the AAST grade based on area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

CONCLUSION

The AAST cholecystitis grading schema has modest discriminatory power similar to the Tokyo Guidelines, but generally lower than the Parkland grade, and should be modified before widespread use.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic study, level IV.

Preoperative diagnoses and identification rates of unexpected gallbladder cancer

Background

Unexpected gallbladder cancer (UGBC) is sometimes found in the resected gallbladder of patients during or after surgery. Some reports have indicated UGBC identification rates for all gallbladder surgeries, but scarce data are available for the UGBC identification rates for specific gallbladder diseases. The present study was performed to clarify UGBC rates and the factors suspicious for UGBC categorized according to preoperative diagnoses, in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LSC).

Methods

We recorded data for all LSC surgeries performed in the Department of Surgery, Sada Hospital, Japan since 1991, and analyzed the 28-year data. We used the chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier analysis for this retrospective case–control study.

Results

The UGBC identification rate was 0.69% (63/9186 patients). The UGBC identification rates categorized according to the preoperative diagnoses were 1.3% (13/969) for acute cholecystitis, 2.4% (16/655) for benign tumor, 2.0% (28/1383) for chronic cholecystitis or cholecystitis, and 0.054% (3/5585) for cholecystolithiasis. The percentage of older patients (≥ 60 years) was significantly higher in UGBCs compared with cases finally diagnosed as benign in each group categorized according to the preoperative diagnoses (p≤0.0014), except for cholecystolithiasis. In cases pre-diagnosed as benign tumor, UGBCs were associated with higher rates of thickened gallbladder wall compared with benign tumor (69.2% vs. 27.9%, respectively; p = 0.0011). UGBCs pre-diagnosed as acute cholecystitis had higher T2–T4 rates (100% vs. 64.3%, respectively; p<0.05) and lower survival rates (p = 0.0149) than UGBCs pre-diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis.

Conclusions

UGBC identification rates depend on the preoperative diagnosis and range from 0.054% to 2.4%. Older age (≥ 60 years) could be related to UGBC, and a pre-diagnosis of acute cholecystitis might indicate more advanced cancer compared with a pre-diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis.

Clinical presentation and outcomes of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis in patients with diabetes - A matched pair analysis. A pilot study

PURPOSE

The primary aim of this study is to compare the clinical course and laboratory parameters of acute cholecystitis in patients with diabetes vs. patients without diabetes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy in the Department of General, Endocrine and Transplant Surgery of University Clinical Center in Gdansk (Poland) between 2007 and 2017. There were 267 patients included in the study. The control group of 197 patients was age and sex matched at a 3:1 ratio. The following was compared between the groups: symptoms at admission, course of surgery, postoperative course, length of hospitalization, total costs of hospitalization and antibiotic therapy, other than routine perioperative prophylaxis.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the patients with and without diabetes regarding symptoms at admission. Operative and postoperative complication rates were significantly higher in the patients with diabetes. The operative time and length of hospitalization were significantly longer in the study group. The conversion rate was not higher in the study group, but classic surgery was performed significantly more often. The patients without diabetes had less pronounced symptoms with more locally advanced disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that patients with diabetes have a significantly more eventful course of acute cholecystitis than patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes should therefore be qualified for cholecystectomy early in the course of acute cholecystitis.

Identification of risk factors for open conversion from laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis based on computed tomography findings

PURPOSE

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is performed widely for acute cholecystitis (AC). This study was conducted to identify the predictors for conversion cholecystectomy (CC) for AC.

METHODS

The subjects of this study were 395 patients who underwent emergency surgery for AC between 2011 and 2019. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to establish the significance of the risk factors for CC in patients with grades II and III AC.

RESULTS

There were 162 TG18 GII and GIII patients in the LC group and 31 in the CC group. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in performance status (p = 0.039), C-reactive protein levels (p = 0.016), albumin levels (p = 0.002), gallbladder (GB) wall thickness (p = 0.045), poor contrast of the GB wall (p = 0.035), severe inflammation around the GB (p < 0.001), enhancement of the liver bed (p = 0.048), and duodenal edema (p < 0.001) between the groups. Multivariate analysis identified hypoalbuminemia (p = 0.043) and duodenal edema (p = 0.014) as independent risk factors for CC.

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with grade I AC underwent LC and had better surgical outcomes than those with grades II and III AC. The most appropriate surgical procedure should be selected based on preoperative imaging of the GB and the neighboring organs and by the presence of hypoalbuminemia.

Comparison of endoscopic naso-gallbladder drainage and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage in acute suppurative cholecystitis: Study Protocol Clinical Trial (SPIRIT Compliant)

INTRODUCTION

Transitional drainage, which is followed by cholecystectomy plays a key role in the management of acute cholecystitis, especially in high-risk surgical patients. Endoscopic naso-gallbladder drainage (ENGBD) is an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) for patients who need temporary drainage. There is a lack of prospective comparison on the relevant outcomes of the two drainage methods during the period of drainage, especially the subsequent cholecystectomy.

METHODS

This is a randomized controlled two-arm non-blind single center trial. Patients with acute cholecystitis undergo emergent or early cholecystectomy and need drainage will be randomly assigned to group PTGBD or ENGBD. Pain score is defined as the primary endpoint, whereas several secondary endpoints, such as the rates of technical success, clinical remission, open conversion of cholecystectomy will be determined to elucidate more detailed differences between two groups. The general feasibility, safety, and quality checks required for high-quality evidence will be adhered to.

DISCUSSION

This study would provide the first type A evidence concerning the comparison of ENGBD versus PTGBD in surgically high-risk patients with acute cholecystitis, it will be the first trial designed to determine the impact of two drainage methods on not only peri-drainage but also peri-LC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03701464. Registered on October 10, 2018.

Schistosomiasis as a cause of acute cholecystitis

Schistosomal cholecystitis is remarkably uncommon disease which is associated with concomitant gallstone disease. The disease prevails with low socio-economic conditions of population. It is still not clear that the widespread fibrocalcific reaction in the wall of gallbladder and the cystic duct, observed for all the reports, predisposes to cholelithiasis or gallstones coexist. In the present study, we report a case of the Saudi male patient affected with schistosomal granulomatous lithiasic cholecystitis. The patient’s gallbladder was badly inflamed therefore performing a safe cholecystectomy in the patient was extremely difficult. Also, infection with schistosoma is related with chronic granulomatous inflammation making the cholecystectomy procedure difficult and risky, therefore, we mainly focused on preventing the injury of bile duct by being prepared that the patient will present a complicated case. This was achieved by using the technique of laparoscopy to safely excise the gall bladder.

Acute cholecystitis and gallbladder perforation leading to massive haemoperitoneum in a patient taking rivaroxaban

We present the case of an 80-year old man taking rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation who sustained massive intra-abdominal bleeding in the setting of acute cholecystitis. CT scan on admission revealed evidence of active bleeding into the gallbladder lumen and gallbladder perforation. Immediate resuscitation was commenced with intravenous fluids, antibiotics and blood products. Despite attempts to correct coagulopathy, the patient's haemodynamic status deteriorated and an emergency laparotomy was performed, with open cholecystectomy, washout and haemostasis. The patient had a largely uneventful recovery and was discharged on day 11 of admission. Patients with coagulopathies, whether pharmacological or due to underlying disease processes, are at very high risk of severe haemorrhagic complications and subsequent morbidity. As such, prompt recognition and operative management of haemorrhagic perforated cholecystitis is of crucial importance.

[The surgical window for performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be extended to seven days after acute cholecystitis]

In Denmark, based on weak evidence from 2002, a surgical window of maximum four days after debut of symptoms has up till now been recommended. Based on 12 randomised controlled studies (RCTs) we conclude, that the surgical window may be extended to seven days. The main advantage is a significant reduction of total hospital stay and apparently without compromising safety. Unfortunately, evidence is based on mostly statistically underpowered RCTs of low or moderate methodological quality, and final conclusions on surgical results are still not possible.

Unsuspected Duplicated Gallbladder in a Patient Presenting with Acute Cholecystitis

Duplicated gallbladder (GB) is a rare congenital disease. Surgical management of a duplicated GB needs special care because of concurrent bile duct anomalies and the risk of injuring adjacent arteries during surgery. An 80-year-old man visited an emergency room with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed cholecystitis with a 2-bodied GB. Because of this unusual finding, magnetic resonance choledochopancreatography was performed to detect possible biliary anomalies. The 2 GB bodies were unified at the neck with a common cystic duct, a so-called V-shaped duplicated GB. The patient's right posterior hepatic duct joined the common bile duct (CBD) near the cystic duct. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy without adjacent organ injury, and was discharged uneventfully. Surgeons should carefully evaluate the patient preoperatively and select adequate surgical procedures in patients with suspected duplicated GB because of the risk of concurrent biliary anomalies.

An Innovative Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Technique; Early Results Towards Complication Free Surgery

BACKGROUND

The performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy could be a technical challenge. Procedure success depends on multiple factors namely: hepatobiliary anatomical variations, pathologic changes in the gallbladder and surrounding tissues, pre-operative interventional attempts, the individual surgeon's skill and finally patient co-morbidities. Anticipating the attendant challenges, can help to avoid several known complications associated with this procedure. Searching a more reliable anatomical topography to adopt during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the basis for a safe surgical technique.

METHODS

Between January 2012 and August 2015, 525 cases were presented with acute cholecystitis. Patients were classified in to two groups regarding degree of dissection difficulty. The study concept is defined and applied by the author in all study cases. No single case was excluded from the study.

RESULTS

Results are processed in comparative way between both groups of the study. The increased risk results in Group B are related to technical difficulties.

CONCLUSION

The study has offered a novel anatomical concept and safe surgical technique avoiding exploration of Calot's triangle. The new concept has minimized dissection demands and risk of injury related to the traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The study has proposed a potentially secure and empirical laparoscopic cholecystectomy technique that could be considered in every case.

Useful of Tokyo guidelines in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Anatomopathologie correlationship

BACKGROUND

In the year 2007 a group of experts come together to discuss criteria for acute cholecystitis and to establish therapeutic guidelines and states of gravity in this disease.

OBJECTIVES

we correlated the criteria of the Tokyo Guidelines 2007 with the anatomopathology study of the surgical specimen.

SETTING

Service of Urgencies of the National Clinic Hospital in Córdoba, Argentine.

METHODS

We studied 324 patients (120 male and 204 female) older than 15 years and without limits of age with the criteria of acute cholecystitis a cord to the Tokyo guidelines 2007. 202 patients had a preoperative diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis and 89 of acute cholecystitis, all received cholecystectomy and studied the operative specimen in the anatomopathology department. Anatomopathology criteria for acute cholecystitis were the presence of polimorpho nuclear cells (PMN), for acute exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis the presence of PMN and monomorpho nuclear cells (MN), and for chronic cholecystitis the presence of MN with or without fibrosis.

RESULTS

This work showed 82,14% of sensitivity for the diagnostic criteria of Tokyo guidelines, 74,03% of specificity, and positive predictive value of 46%. With the Bayes Theorem the predictive value in Córdoba city was 18,49%.

CONCLUSION

There is an important difference in the specificity and positive predictive value between our work and the Tokyo guidelines for acute cholecystitis. There is an important group of patients in our work with acute exacerbation of chronic cholecystitis that is not classified in the diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis of Tokyo guidelines.

Ultrasound Measurement of the Gallbladder Wall Thickness in the Assessment of the Risk of Conversion from Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Surgery - Olkusz County Experience

The aim of the study was to assess the risk of intraoperative difficulties, conversion and biliary-intestinal fistula during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the basis of an ultrasound-measured gall-bladder wall thickness.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in 50 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic gallstone-induced cholecystitis. To calculate the relationships between categorical variables, a chi-square (χ2) independence test was used, and the results were interpreted for the significance threshold of α = 0.05.

RESULTS

The relationship between the gall-bladder wall thickness and the occurrence of intraoperative difficulties in the analysed set is deterministic (AUC = 1), and the wall thickness of ≥ 5 mm allows to predict their occurrence as soon as at the stage of diagnostic evaluation (p < 0.001). In addition, the ultrasound-measured GB wall thickness is a good predictor of conversion (AUC = 0.976; 95% CI 0.444-0.975; p < 0.001) and biliary-intestinal fistula (AUC = 0.935; 95% CI 0.121-0.738; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The results allow prediction of technically difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies in patients with CCh, and selection of the right surgical team helps to reduce the number of conversions and possible complications. In addition, bearing in mind the above results in everyday practice should facilitate planning and increase effectiveness in the operating room.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Acute Cholecystitis after Successful Percutaneous Cholecystostomy Treatment and the Risk Factors for Recurrence: A Decade Experience at a Single Center

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous cholecystostomy tube (PCT) has been effectively used for the treatment of acute cholecystitis (AC) for patients unsuitable for early cholecystectomy. This retrospective study investigated the recurrence rate after successful PCT treatment and factors associated with recurrence.

METHODS

We reviewed patients treated with PCT for AC from October 2004 through December 2013. Patients with successful PCT treatment were those who were free from persistent PCT drainage. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis sequentially to identify factors associated with each outcome.

RESULTS

The study included 184 patients (mean age: 70.1 years). The average duration for parenteral antibiotics was 14.4 days and 20.0 days for PCT drainage. The one-year recurrence rate was 9.2% (17/184) with most recurrences occurring within two months (6.5%, 12/184) of the procedure. Complicated cholecystitis (odds ratio [OR]: 4.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44-15.70; P = 0.01) and PCT drainage duration >32 days (OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 1.03-23.53; P = 0.05) positively correlated with one-year recurrence; parenteral antibiotics duration >10 days (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05-0.68; P = 0.01) was inversely associated with one-year recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

The recurrence rate was low for patients after successful PCT treatment. Predictors for recurrence included the severity of initial AC and subsequently provided treatments.

[CLINICAL FEATURES DURING THE ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS IN THE OLDER AGE GROUP OF PATIENTS]

One of the most popular abdominal diseases is an acute cholecystitis. that’s why is very actual in acute cholecystitis the study of clinical features in the older age group of patients in improving of preoperative diagnosis and adequate option of treatment. In the research were involved 1273 patients, wiich were the patients during 2007-2014 years in Medical center of Yerevan, department of Laporacopic surgery, who suffered from acute cholecystitis. Research findings from the data analysis allows us to assume that the characteristics of the older age group of patients during the acute cholecystitis are difficult to do some surgical intervention and it needs very clever prediction for treatment.

[Etiology of "difficult" laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

AIM

To define causes of difficult situations in various forms of acute cholecystitis depending on terms of disease and clinico-morphological changes in gall bladder area and to justify differentiated application of laparoscopic surgery for acute cholecystitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

It was reviewed 1132 medical records of patients with acute cholecystitis. It is found that morphological changes in gall bladder and surrounding tissues depend on duration of follow-up of patients with acute cholecystitis and type of inflammation.

RESULTS

In acute catarrhal cholecystitis "complicated" intraoperative situations are observed in 37.5% due to "loose" tissues infiltration, in phlegmonous and gangrenous forms of inflammation - in 44.6% and 63.6% respectively due to "dense" infiltrates development.

CONCLUSION

Technical variants of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for various "difficult" intraoperative situations are suggested.

[PREVENTION OF INFLAMMATORY COMPLICATIONS AFTER CHOLECYSTECTOMY IF BROWN STONES IN THE GALL BLADDER AND ITS DESTRUCTIVE CHANGES]

The experience of treatment in the clinic of 47 patients with acute calculous cholecystitis was analysed. The removal of the gallbladder found brown pigment stones. The clinical course of the disease in such patients, ultrasound data and instrumental methods were described. The triple antibiotic therapy application helped to reduce the risk of infection of bile, the elimination of the inflammatory process.

[DETERMINATION OF A FATTY ACIDS CONTENT IN BILIARY LIPIDS AS A PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOR THE COMPLICATIONS OCCURRENCE IN PATIENTS AFTER OPERATIONS FOR AN ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS IN A HIGH OPERATIVE—ANESTHESIOLOGICAL RISK]

Investigation was conducted with objective to establish a prognostic significance of the fatty acids content in biliary lipids for the complications occurrence in patients, operated on for an acute cholecystitis, while presence of high operative—anesthesiological risk. A fatty acids content in biliary lipids was analyzed in 64 patients in presence of moderate (grade ІІ) and severe (grade ІІІ) course of the disease. Coefficients К1 and К2 for prognostication of postoperative purulent—inflammatory complications occurrence were elaborated, their threshold level (К1=0.59, К2=1.8) was established. There was established, that excess of the threshold meaning of К1 and К2 in a bile of patients, suffering an acute cholecystitis while presence of high operative—anesthesiological risk, constitutes a prognostic criterion for the postoperative purulent—inflammatory complications occurrence

[HEMOSTASIOLOGIC INDICES AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY FOR AN ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS]

The indices of coagulometry and thromboelastography (THEG) were determined in 60 patients, suffering various forms of an acute cholecystitis. Preoperatively the coagulometry indices have had a hypercoagulation tendency while the disease severity enhances. After performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy the most essential changes of indices were observed. In the patients after severe operation there was observed accelerated kinetics of the blood clotting, witnessed by the THEG indices. The risk of the hemorrhage occurrence restricts application of medicinal thromboprophylaxis.

[TG13: THE UPDATED TOKYO'S CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF AN ACUTE CHOLANGITIS AND CHOLECYSTITIS]

Basing on analysis of the multicenter clinical investigations results, as well as meta-analysis and consensuses, the main suggestions of the updated Tokyo's clinical recommendations for the treatment of an acute cholangitis and an acute cholecystitis (TG13), diagnostic criteria and the scales of estimation for the patients' state severity, were elaborated. Indications and the drainage methods of a gallbladder were substantiated - in an acute cholecystitis, and of biliary ducts - in an acute cholangitis, as well as peculiarities of surgical treatment of an acute cholecystitis. Empirical antibacterial therapy was enlightened, taking into account the characteristics for biliary infection microorganisms and the disease severity.

[EXPERIENCE OF TREATMENT OF PREGNANT WOMEN WITH ACUTE SURGICAL DISEASES OF THE ABDOMINAL CAVITY]

This article describes a generalized experience in the treatment of pregnant women with acute surgical diseases of the abdominal cavity.

[TREATMENT OF ACUTE CALCULOUS CHOLECYSTITIS: "EARLY" OR "PLANNED" LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTMIVY]

The comparative analysis of results of surgical treatment of 82 patients with acute cholecystitis, which made "early" (ELCE) or "planned" (PLCE) laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCE) in the surgical department for the period from 2012 to 2014. The analysis showed that LCE can be set in any time from the beginning of acute cholecystitis. However, priority should be given ELCE, providing significant reduction in duration of treatment of patients in hospitals and is more cost effective.

Deficiencies of Circulating Mucosal-associated Invariant T Cells and Natural Killer T Cells in Patients with Acute Cholecystitis

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and natural killer T (NKT) cells are known to play crucial roles in a variety of diseases, including autoimmunity, infectious diseases, and cancers. However, little is known about the roles of these invariant T cells in acute cholecystitis. The purposes of this study were to examine the levels of MAIT cells and NKT cells in patients with acute cholecystitis and to investigate potential relationships between clinical parameters and these cell levels. Thirty patients with pathologically proven acute cholecystitis and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Disease grades were classified according to the revised Tokyo guidelines (TG13) for the severity assessment for acute cholecystitis. Levels of MAIT and NKT cells in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. Circulating MAIT and NKT cell numbers were significantly lower in acute cholecystitis patients than in healthy controls, and these deficiencies in MAIT cells and NKT cell numbers were associated with aging in acute cholecystitis patients. Notably, a reduction in NKT cell numbers was found to be associated with severe TG13 grade, death, and high blood urea nitrogen levels. The study shows numerical deficiencies of circulating MAIT and NKT cells and age-related decline of these invariant T cells. In addition, NKT cell deficiency was associated with acute cholecystitis severity and outcome. These findings provide an information regarding the monitoring of these changes in circulating MAIT and NKT cell numbers during the course of acute cholecystitis and predicting prognosis.

[Application of principles of "fast track" surgery in treatment of calculous cholecystitis]

The "fast track" concept in surgery provides rapid rehabilitation of postoperative patients, using the operative trauma reduction, adequate anesthesia--for reduction of the organism stress answer on surgical intervention. Results of treatment were analyzed in 118 patients, in whom for calculous cholecystitis the one-port transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy (OPTLCH) was performed. Duration of the patients stationary treatment without abdominal cavity drainage have constituted at average (1.49 ± 0.05) days, after drainage--2.22 days. Intensity of the pain impulsation, which was determined in accordance to concentration of proinflammatory cytokins, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) after standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCH) was in 1.2 times higher, than after OPTLCH. In subjective estimation of the pain intensity in accordance to visual analogous scale in patients after OPTLCH have constituted (3.42 ± 0.16) cm, and after a standard one--(5.98 ± 0.19) cm (p < 0.05).

[Comparative analysis of application of highly intensive laser irradiation and electrocoagulation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed for destructive forms of an acute calculous cholecystitis]

Comparative analysis of results of the laser diode (the wave length 940 nm) and elec- trocoagulation application while performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy was con- ducted. For an acute calculous cholecystitis 52 patients were operated, in whom instead of electrocoagulation the laser was applied, provide for reduction of thermal impact on tissues, the complications absence, reduction of the patients stationary treatment duration postoperatively from (5.2 ± 1.2) to (4.9 ± 0.6) days.

[HOW TO PERFORM THE CONVERSION DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY]

The aim of the work was the rationale for the choice of access in the performance of conversion in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In our study, conversion was performed in 34 (2.78%) cases of 1222 laparoscopic cholecystectomies: when the LCE for chronic cholecystitis--17 (1.6%) cases of 1065, for acute cholecystitis--17 (10.8%) of 157. The most common access for conversion are oblique access Kocher and upper-middle access. Choice of approach for the implementation of the conversion depends on the cause of conversion.

[Prognostication of the performance possibility for laparoscopic exploration of common biliary duct in an acute calculous cholecystitis]

The results of miniinvasive treatment of 319 patients, suffering complicated acute calculous cholecystitis, using laparoscopic technologies, were analyzed in retrospective investigation. The risk factors for unfaithful conduction of laparoscopic intervention on biliary ducts were determined. The chances for possibility of laparoscopic choledocholithoextraction performance on biliary ducts were established, using binary regressive analysis. Reduction of rate of unfaithful laparoscopic interventions, made on common biliary duct, from 18.6 to 5.9% was promoted by application of mathematically elaborated criteria in accordance to the prospective investigation data.

[The nature of postoperative complications in patients with peritonitis]

We studied the postoperative period in patients with peritonitis. The structure of the most important factors that slow down the healing process and lead to mortality. Among the factors that affect the healing process is the most important character of fluid, and the prevalence of peritonitis (causative factor), which causes complications on the part of the internal organs and wounds.

[Experience in treatment of abdominal complications after urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy]

Experience of treatment of 24 patients, in whom complications after urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for an acute cholecystitis have occurred, was studied. An acute phlegmonous cholecystitis was diagnosed in 14 (58.3%) patients, an acute gangrenous one--in 10 (41.7%). Pathological accumulations of liquid in abdominal cavity, measuring (105.9 +/- 79.1) ml at average, was observed in 17 patients, in them interventional sonography in accordance to the free hand method was applied. While dilatation of common biliary duct (CBD), sizing more than 10 mm, videoendoscopic papillosphincterotomy, the CBD revision, using Dormia's basket, choledocholithoextraction were performed. Passability of extrahepatic biliary ducts was controlled, using fistulography and retrograde cholangiography. Endoscopic operations were successful. All the patients have recovered and dismissed on the 10 - 13-th day.

[Infiltrate of a gallbladder]

Infiltrate of a gallbladder, as a complication of an acute cholecystitis constitute a separate form of the disease. In this case a destructive changes in gallbladder are restricted from surrounding tissues. While presence of infiltrate of a small size and favorable course under the influence of conservative therapy it is necessary to follow an expectant tactics up to complete dissolving of the infiltrate with a consequent obligate operative treatment in a "cold" period of the disease. Not rarely the infiltrate is transformed into a gallbladder oedema, what demands performance of a deferred operation. In a deep destructive process a gallbladder empyema may occur or paravesical abscess formated, what demands performance of urgent operative intervention.

Enhanced expression of cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase during acute cholecystitis-induced gallbladder inflammation

Background

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) has recently been shown to play an important role in the digestive system, but the role of endogenous H₂S produced locally in the gallbladder is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether gallbladder possesses the enzymatic machinery to synthesize H₂S, and whether H₂S synthesis is changed in gallbladder inflammation during acute acalculous cholecystitis (AC).

Methods

Adult male guinea pigs underwent either a sham operation or common bile duct ligation (CBDL). One, two, or three days after CBDL, the animals were sacrificed separately. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of gallbladder samples were scored for inflammation. H₂S production rate in gallbladder tissue from each group was determined; immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to determine expression levels of the H₂S-producing enzymes cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) in gallbladder.

Results

There was a progressive inflammatory response after CBDL. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that CBS and CSE were expressed in the gallbladder epithelium, muscular layer, and blood vessels and that the expression increased progressively with increasing inflammation following CBDL. The expression of CBS protein as well as the H₂S-production rate was significantly increased in the animals that underwent CBDL, compared to those that underwent the sham operation.

Conclusions

Both CBS and CSE are expressed in gallbladder tissues. The expression of these enzymes, as well as H₂S synthesis, was up-regulated in the context of inflammation during AC.

TG13 diagnostic criteria and severity grading of acute cholecystitis (with videos)

Since its publication in 2007, the Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis (TG07) have been widely adopted. The validation of TG07 conducted in terms of clinical practice has shown that the diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis are highly reliable but that the definition of definite diagnosis is ambiguous. Discussion by the Tokyo Guidelines Revision Committee concluded that acute cholecystitis should be suspected when Murphy's sign, local inflammatory findings in the gallbladder such as right upper quadrant abdominal pain and tenderness, and fever and systemic inflammatory reaction findings detected by blood tests are present but that definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis can be made only on the basis of the imaging of ultrasonography, computed tomography or scintigraphy (HIDA scan). These proposed diagnostic criteria provided better specificity and accuracy rates than the TG07 diagnostic criteria. As for the severity assessment criteria in TG07, there is evidence that TG07 resulted in clarification of the concept of severe acute cholecystitis. Furthermore, there is evidence that severity assessment in TG07 has led to a reduction in the mean duration of hospital stay. As for the factors used to establish a moderate grade of acute cholecystitis, such as leukocytosis, ALP, old age, diabetes, being male, and delay in admission, no new strong evidence has been detected indicating that a change in the criteria used in TG07 is needed. Therefore, it was judged that the severity assessment criteria of TG07 could be applied in the updated Tokyo Guidelines (TG13) with minor changes. TG13 presents new standards for the diagnosis, severity grading and management of acute cholecystitis. Free full-text articles and a mobile application of TG13 are available via http://www.jshbps.jp/en/guideline/tg13.html.

[A complex method for prophylaxis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy complications]

The clinical examination and treatment results were analyzed in 1282 patients, in whom laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using complex method of the complications prophylaxis, was performed for calculous cholecystitis. The complications have had occurred in 21 (1.64%) patients, the conversion necessity--in 10 (0.78%), 3 (0.23%) patients died.

New diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis in revised Tokyo Guidelines

Background

The Tokyo Guidelines for the management of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis (TG07) were published in 2007 as the world’s first guidelines for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. The diagnostic criteria and severity assessment of acute cholecystitis have since been widely used all over the world. A validation study of TG07 has shown that the diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis are highly reliable but that the definition of definite diagnosis is ambiguous. In addition, considerable new evidence referring to acute cholecystitis as well as evaluations of TG07 have been published. Consequently, we organized the Tokyo Guidelines Revision Committee to evaluate TG07, recognize new evidence, and conduct a multi-center analysis to revise the guidelines (TG13).

Methods and materials

We retrospectively analyzed 451 patients with acute cholecystitis from multiple tertiary care centers in Japan. All 451 patients were first evaluated using the criteria in TG07. The “gold standard” for acute cholecystitis in this study was a diagnosis by pathology. The validity of TG07 diagnostic criteria was investigated by comparing clinical with pathological diagnosis.

Results

Of 451 patients evaluated, a total of 227 patients were given a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis by pathological examination (prevalence 50.3 %). TG07 criteria provided a definite diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in 224 patients. The sensitivity of TG07 diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis was 92.1 %, and the specificity was 93.3 %. Based on the preliminary results, new diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis were proposed. Using the new criteria, the sensitivity of definite diagnosis was 91.2 %, and the specificity was 96.9 %. The accuracy rate was improved from 92.7 to 94.0 %. In regard to severity grading among 227 patients, 111 patients were classified as Mild (Grade I), 104 as Moderate (Grade II), and 12 as Severe (Grade III).

Conclusion

The proposed new diagnostic criteria achieved better performance than the diagnostic criteria in TG07. Therefore, the proposed criteria have been adopted as new diagnostic criteria for acute cholecystitis and are referred to as the 2013 Tokyo Guidelines (TG13). Regarding severity assessment, no new evidence was found to suggest that the criteria in TG07 needed major adjustment. As a result, TG07 severity assessment criteria have been adopted in TG13 with minor changes.

[Effect of succinate-containing medications on hepatic structural changes in acute experimental cholecystitis]

Histological and electron microscopic changes in the hepatic structure were studied in animals with acute experimental cholecystitis. The administration of the succinate-containing drugs reamberin and mexidole decreased the magnitude of morphological changes in the liver tissue. Morphometric examination revealed that reamberin versus mexidole showed a high efficacy in reducing the area of hepatocytic necrosis.

Gallbladder metastasis secondary to gastric cancer as a first site of recurrence presented with acute cholecystitis: case report and literature review

Metastasis to the gallbladder from other malignancies is extremely rare and is related with a very poor prognosis. Malignant melanoma has been reported to be the most common origin of gallbladder metastasis. Although only eight cases of gallbladder metastasis originating from gastric cancer have been documented in the literature based on small series, of these cases, only one case with signet ring cell carcinoma histology has been reported previously. We report the case of a 58-year-old male with early-stage signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach who presented with acute cholecystitis previously treated with curative gastrectomy. After laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the diagnosis of gallbladder metastasis with signet ring cell histology secondary to gastric cancer was made. To our knowledge, this is only the second case of signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach metastasized to the gallbladder as a first site of recurrence. We suggest that for patients with gastric cancer who complain of the findings of acute cholecystitis or cholecystolithiasis, gallbladder metastasis from gastric cancer should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

[The pneumoperitoneum course forecasting and surgery tactic in the group of patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis and concomitant pathology of cardiovascular system]

The share of elderly and senile patients with acute cholecystitis concomitant cardiovascular pathology whom the laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been provided is increased. The heightened intraabdominal pressure has negative influence at the cardiovascular system, so the alternative ways for treatment of this group of patients are used in clinic. We propose the pneumoperitoneum model using the pneumatic belt which is fixed at the abdomen in preoperative period in patients with an acute and chronic cholecystitis. This model is useful to forecast cardiovascular disorders during future laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The arterial pressure level, pulse score and ECG are monitored during the test (90 min). Myocardial ischemia appearance seems that the risk of laparoscopic cholecystectomy with pneumoperitoneum is high. The alternative method of surgery in such group of patients (no pneumoperitoneum is applied) is laparoscopic assisted cholecystectomya from miniaccess. This method allows to reducing frequency of intra- and postoperative complications connected with pneumoperitoneum negative influence at the patients with concomitant pathology of cardiovascular system.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the appropriate management for acute gangrenous cholecystitis

Treatment of severe acute cholecystitis by laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains controversial because of technical difficulties and high rates of complications. We determined whether early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is appropriate for acute gangrenous cholecystitis. The medical records of 116 patients with acute gangrenous cholecystitis admitted to the Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2005 and December 2009 were reviewed. The early operation group, those patients who had cholecystectomies within 4 days of the diagnosis, was compared with the delayed operation group, who had cholecystectomies 4 days after the diagnosis. Of the 116 patients, 57 were in the early operation group and 59 were in the delayed operation group. There were no statistical differences between the groups with respect to gender, age, body mass index, operative methods, major complications, duration of symptoms, mean operative time (98 vs 107 minutes), or postoperative hospital stay. However, the total hospital stay was significantly longer in the delayed operation group. More patients underwent preoperative percutaneous cholecystostomy in the delayed operation group (3.5 vs 15.3%). Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute gangrenous cholecystitis is safe and feasible. There is no advantage to postponing an urgent operation in patients with acute gangrenous cholecystitis.

Infectious diseases and the gallbladder

Infections of the gastrointestinal tract can often involve the gallbladder. Infection probably plays a role in the formation of gallstones but is more commonly thought to contribute to acute illness in patients. Acute calculous cholecystitis caused by an impacted gallstone is often complicated by secondary bacterial infection and is a major cause of morbidity and even mortality in patients. A wide variety of organisms can be associated with acute acalculous cholecystitis, a less common but potentially more severe form of acute cholecystitis. This review focuses on infections and their role in the above-mentioned processes involving the gallbladder.

Overcoming of a "surgical dogma" in acute cholecystitis treated in postponed emergency

AIM

To demonstrate the overcoming of a surgical dogma related to acute cholecystitis treatment, in particular to the timing of the operation.

METHODS

One hundred cases of observed acute cholecystitis, submitted to an emergency postponed laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery and histological control of specimens to evaluate rate of surgical complications and rate of reconver-tion to open surgery

RESULTS

The complications rate observed and the surgical conversion to open technique was only 1% where in 96% of the cases the histological examination of the specimen confirmed the state of acute inflammation. Therefore there was a substantial success rate of laparoscopic therapy even in emergency situations, in spite of an overcoming of the conventional timing within 72 hours of surgery for acute cases, which has few restrictions from some authors. The reasons allowing in safety that time extension were ascribed to the laparoscopic procedure, apt to overcome the anatomo-pathological barriers through an accurate vision of the operative field, and the use of specialized devices allowing the coagulative dissection of inflamed tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

Postponed colecistectomy in acute cholecystitis, in extention of the canonical coded timing of 72 hours, confirmed to be a safe and successful procedure, even in emergency, with only rare exceptions.

[Enzymatic cholecystitis]

The article presents basic information on little known to medical practitioners enzymatic cholecystitis.

[Intoxication syndrome in acute cholecystitis in elderly and old people]

Acute cholecystitis in elderly and old patients is characterized by quickly developing intoxication syndrome. The aim of this survey is to assess the intoxication syndrome in 46 patients, suffering from acute cholecystitis--17 men and 29 women. Clinical signs/ present status, temperature, pulse, respiration, as well as laboratory results/leucocytes, blood count, leucocyte index of intoxication-- LII / are used. The value of LII correspond with the clinical status of the patient and histological findings.