Gallbladder perforation: A single-center experience in north India and a step-up approach for management

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous gallbladder perforation (GBP) is an uncommon diagnosis. This study presented the experience of managing spontaneous GBP over nine years at a large, tertiary care university hospital in north India and investigated the outcomes and treatment strategies.

METHODS

A retrospective review of prospectively maintained digital database of consecutive patients was performed. All patients received medical and/or surgical treatment for spontaneous GBP in our department between January 2010 and June 2018.

RESULTS

We identified 151 patients (81 females and 70 males) with mean age of 53 years. Most common presenting features were pain (96.7%), fever (54.3%) and jaundice (31.1%). Most common cause was gallbladder stones (84.8%) followed by common bile duct stones (30.5%), xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (17.9%) and malignancy (11.9%). As per Niemeier classification, 8.6% had type 1 GBP (free perforation in peritoneal cavity), 76.2% had type 2 GBP (localized perforation) and 13.2% had type 3 GBP (cholecysto-enteric fistula). About 60% of the perforations were diagnosed preoperatively. Type 1 was more common in patients with diabetes and also had the worst prognosis. Surgery was performed in 109 patients (72.2%). Seven patients (4.6%) had a postoperative morbidity of Clavien-Dindo III or higher. There were three mortalities in patients who underwent surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

High index of suspicion is required for preoperative diagnosis of GBP, especially in types 2 and 3. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be difficult in these patients and patients may require open or partial cholecystectomy. Early diagnosis and step-up approach for the treatment of GBP is critical.

Unusual presentation of intussusception: Gallstone ileus

Gallstone ileus is a rare pathology, occurring in an estimated 0.5% of cases, which preferentially affect females and the elderly population. This rare pathology is the result of a fistulous connection between the bowel and gallbladder. This connection allows gallstones to pass into the bowel leading to mechanical obstruction. On rare occasions the enteric gallstone can act as a lead point causing intussusception. We present a rare case of intussusception secondary to gallstone ileus in a young, relatively asymptomatic patient. CT played a critical role in diagnosis and appropriate management of our patient.

Gallbladder perforation: a single center experience of 32 cases

Backgrounds/Aims

Gallbladder perforation is a rare but potentially fatal disease. We herein present our clinical experience in diagnosis and management of 32 cases of gallbladder perforation.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted with inclusion of all cases of gallbladder perforation that presented to our hospital from January 2012 to November 2014. Cases of traumatic gallbladder perforation and patients younger than 12 years of age were excluded from this study.

Results

This study included 32 patients (13 males and 19 females). The mean age of patients was 55.9 years. Gallbladder perforation was most common in the 5th and 6th decade of life. The mean age of patients with type I, II, and III gallbladder perforation was 57.0 years, 57.6 years, and 49.8 years, respectively. The most common site of perforation was the fundus, followed by the body and Hartmann's pouch (24 : 5 : 2). Most of the type I gallbladder perforations were diagnosed intraoperatively, type II gallbladder perforations were diagnosed by enhanced abdominal computed tomography, and type III gallbladder perforations were diagnosed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy converted to open cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Mortality was highest in patients with type I gallbladder perforation. The mean hospital stay was 10.1 days, 6.4 days, and 9.2 days in patients with type I, II, and III gallbladder perforation, respectively. The histopathologic analysis in 28 patients who were operated on showed acute cholecystitis in 19 cases, acute-on-chronic cholecystitis in 4 cases, chronic cholecystitis in 4 cases, and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder in a single case.

Conclusions

Gallbladder perforation represents a special diagnostic and surgical challenge. Appropriate classification and management are essential.

Mirizzi syndrome type Va: A rare coexistence of double cholecysto-biliary and cholecysto-enteric fistulae

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare cause of intermittent obstructive jaundice, where an impacted stone in the cystic duct or Hartmann's pouch mechanically obstructs the common bile duct (CBD). We report a rare case of double cholecysto-biliary and cholecysto-enteric fistulae, in a 75-year-old female patient, presenting with a right upper quadrant abdominal pain and intermittent obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography suggested Mirizzi syndrome. Operative findings included erosions of the lateral wall of the CBD and the second portion of the duodenum due to impacted gallstones. The defects were reconstructed primarily and a Kehr tube was inserted. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 14th postoperative day.

Mirizzi syndrome type Va: A rare coexistence of double cholecysto-biliary and cholecysto-enteric fistulae

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare cause of intermittent obstructive jaundice, where an impacted stone in the cystic duct or Hartmann’s pouch mechanically obstructs the common bile duct (CBD). We report a rare case of double cholecysto-biliary and cholecysto-enteric fistulae, in a 75-year-old female patient, presenting with a right upper quadrant abdominal pain and intermittent obstructive jaundice. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography suggested Mirizzi syndrome. Operative findings included erosions of the lateral wall of the CBD and the second portion of the duodenum due to impacted gallstones. The defects were reconstructed primarily and a Kehr tube was inserted. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and was discharged on the 14th postoperative day.