Comparison of long-term quality of life after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have compared open and laparoscopic procedures, showing many advantages in favor of the laparoscopic technique during the early postoperative period, only a limited number of reports in the literature compare the two techniques during the later follow-up period with regard to quality of life. This study aimed to compare the effects of these two cholecystectomy techniques on the quality of life and clinical outcome of the patients during long-term follow-up evaluation.

METHODS

This study evaluated 200 patients who underwent cholecystectomy operations with either technique between 1993 and 1999 in our department. There were 100 patients in each group. Both groups were similar with respect to age, gender, body mass indexes, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) scores, and indications for surgery. The Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 Health survey (SF-36), which includes 36 items, was used for evaluating the quality-of-life index. In addition to this, a system-specific instrument for gastrointestinal diseases was used to investigate clinical outcome.

RESULTS

The mean administration time for the questionnaire was 46.8 +/- 18.7 months in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) group and 41.5 +/- 16 months in the open cholecystectomy (OC) group. Statistically significant differences were noted in the scores for all eight SF = 36 health status domains in favor of laparospopic surgery. No statistically significant difference was found for abdominal pain, location of the pain, referral to a doctor for the pain, accompanying symptoms, relieving factors for the pain, distention, and dyspeptic complaints, usage of antacid therapy, weight changes, changes in bowel habit, need for a special diet, or sexual functions between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The gastrointestinal clinical symptoms were similar in the two groups during the long-term follow-up evaluation, but laparoscopic cholecystectomy was found to be significantly superior to the open technique with respect to the quality of life over the long term.

Limitation of shockwave-induced enhanced crystal deposition in traumatized tissue by verapamil in rabbit model

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the possible protective effect of verapamil (a calcium channel blocking agent) against the traumatizing effects of high-energy shockwaves (HESW) and new stone formation, as indicated by crystal deposition in the renal parenchyma, an experimental study was performed in rabbits.

METHODS

A total of 65 rabbits were included. During severe hyperoxaluria induced by continuous ethylene glycol (EG) (0.75%) administration, animals in the first group (N = 15) received EG only, and animals in the second group underwent administration of 500 to 1500 shockwaves, animals in the third group (N = 15) received verapamil (0.1 mg/kg) for 3 days prior to HESW application, a control group (N = 15) received various numbers (500 to 1500) of shockwaves alone. Sham-treated animals (N = 5) constituted the last group in our study. Three months after shockwave application, tissue sections obtained from treated and untreated kidneys were evaluated histopathologically under light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the presence and degree of crystal deposition in the cortical parenchymal region subjected to HESW.

RESULTS

Whereas crystal deposition was evident in the intercellular region and intratubular parts of the parenchyma in animals receiving EG and HESW, especially in those receiving relatively higher numbers of shockwaves), animals receiving verapamil demonstrated limited or no crystal formation. No significant crystal deposition could be noted in specimens from animals undergoing either EG or SWL alone, and sham-treated animals demonstrated no significant alteration, as expected.

CONCLUSION

Using this model, the traumatic effects of HESW could be evaluated as a factor in new stone formation after SWL. Verapamil has been found to be protective against crystal deposition.