Asian race/ethnicity as a risk factor for bile duct injury during cholecystectomy

Clinical characteristics, predictors, and rates of hospitalized acute cholangitis patients in the United States

BACKGROUND

Acute cholangitis (AC) is a relatively uncommon condition, with a mortality rate of 50% without prompt treatment. Our study aimed to assess the impact of demographic and social factors on morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilization of patients with AC in the United States (US).

METHODS

We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2016 and 2017). Our study population included all patients with a discharge diagnosis of AC, identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code K830.

RESULTS

A total of 18,649 patients were hospitalized with a diagnosis of AC, with rates higher among older persons. The incidence increased notably from 142.36 cases per million in 2016 to 144.3 in 2017. The majority (53%) of patients were on Medicare. Age >60 years was associated with greater mortality compared to 0-18 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-5.43). Hispanic race (OR 1.4, 95%CI 1.15-1.76) and Black race (OR 1.3, 95%CI 1.04-1.63) had an increased mortality compared to White race. Among the factors analyzed, age >60 (OR 3.72, 95%CI 2.93-4.70) and male sex (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.86-0.98) were found to be significantly associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) during hospitalization. The total charge for hospitalizations in 2016 was $766 million, increasing to $825 million in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AC in the US increased slightly year over year. In patients presenting with AC, age and race were associated with mortality while age and sex were associated with the need for ERCP.

Impact of iatrogenic biliary injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on surgeon's mental distress: a nationwide survey from China

BACKGROUND

Iatrogenic biliary injury (IBI) following laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the most serious iatrogenic complications. Little is known whether LC-IBI would lead to surgeon's severe mental distress (SMD).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey in the form of electronic questionnaire was conducted among Chinese general surgeons who have caused LC-IBI. The six collected clinical features relating to mental distress included: 1) feeling burnout, anxiety, or depression, 2) avoiding performing LC, 3) having physical reactions when recalling the incidence, 4) having the urge to quit surgery, 5) taking psychiatric medications, and 6) seeking professional psychological counseling. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors of SMD, which was defined as meeting ≥3 of the above-mentioned clinical features.

RESULTS

Among 1466 surveyed surgeons, 1236 (84.3%) experienced mental distress following LC-IBI, and nearly half (49.7%, 614/1236) had SMD. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that surgeons from non-university affiliated hospitals (OR:1.873), patients who required multiple repair operations (OR:4.075), patients who required hepaticojejunostomy/partial hepatectomy (OR:1.859), existing lawsuit litigation (OR:10.491), existing violent doctor-patient conflicts (OR:4.995), needing surgeons' personal compensation (OR:2.531), and additional administrative punishment by hospitals (OR:2.324) were independent risk factors of surgeon's SMD.

CONCLUSION

Four out of five surgeons experienced mental distress following LC-IBI, and nearly half had SMD. Several independent risk factors of SMD were identified, which could help to make strategies to improve surgeons' mental well-being.

Age and Obesity are Independent Predictors of Bile Duct Injuries in Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a serious complication of cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to assess predictors of bile duct injury using a national database.

METHODS

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2010-2012) was queried for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We used a) diagnoses for bile duct injury and b) bile duct injury repair procedure codes as a surrogate marker for bile duct injuries.

RESULTS

A total of 1,015 patients had bile duct injury. The mean age was 58.2 ± 19.7 years, 53.5 % were males, and median Charlson co-morbidity score was 2 [2, 3]. Multivariate analysis revealed morbid obesity [2.8 (2.1-4.3); p = 0.03] and age >65 [1.5 (1.05-2.1); p = 0.01] as the independent predictors for bile duct injury in patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

Our study finds a new association between obesity, aging, and bile duct injuries which has never been reported in literature before.

Influence of gender and socioeconomic background on the decision to perform gallstone surgery: a population-based register study

BACKGROUND

In the absence of unequivocal standardized indications for surgery, socioeconomic background and gender may have a major impact on the decision to perform surgery for cholecystolithiasis. The purpose was to assess how decisions to perform surgery in Sweden are influenced by patient-related factors and how this affects the epidemiology of gallstone disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study is based on the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks), which covers >90% of surgical units, including 98% of all procedures performed. All procedures performed during 2005-2009 were included. Data on socioeconomic background were obtained from Statistics Sweden. The influence of gender and age on decision to perform surgery was tested in multivariate linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Up to the age of 40 years, women were 6 times more likely than men to undergo surgery for biliary colic. On the other hand, there was a relative preponderance of men undergoing cholecystectomy for jaundice, cholecystitis, bile duct stone or pancreatitis in the elderly population (p < 0.001). Socioeconomic background did not have any significant impact on the decision to operate.

CONCLUSION

Presentations of gallstone disease differ between men and women, as does the decision to perform surgery. The higher incidence of surgery for secondary complications in older men could be explained by a higher prevalence of gallstones resulting from a lower incidence of surgery at a younger age. Whether or not wider indications for surgery in young patients reduce the risk for gallstone complications requiring surgery should be explored in future studies.

A nationwide examination of outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy compared with cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, 1998-2010

BACKGROUND

Improvements in percutaneous drainage techniques combined with the recognized advantages of avoiding surgery in critically ill patients have rendered cholecystostomy an attractive treatment option, particularly in those patients with acute acalculus cholecystitis. However, robust data to guide surgeons in choosing cholecystostomy versus cholecystectomy have been lacking.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 1998-2010 was performed. Patients identified as having acute cholecystitis (calculus and acalculus) were identified by ICD-9 diagnosis codes and further classified as having undergone cholecystostomy or cholecystectomy. Patients with both procedures were included in the cholecystectomy group. Patients with neither procedure and those younger than age 18 years were excluded. Multivariate analyses examined mortality, length of stay, total charges, gallbladder/gastrointestinal complications, or any complication. Results were adjusted for age, race, gender, Charlson comorbidity index, and teaching-hospital status. Subset analyses were performed among patients who survived and patients who died.

RESULTS

A total of 248,229 calculus and 58,518 acalculus acute cholecystitis patients were analyzed. On unadjusted analysis, mortality, length of stay, and total charges were higher, but complication rates were lower, in patients with a cholecystostomy. Adjusted analysis showed lower odds of complications [calculus: odds ratio (OR) 0.3, p < 0.001; acalculus: OR 0.4, p < 0.001] but higher odds of mortality, total charges, and LOS (calculus: mortality OR 5.2, p < 0.001, $29,113, p < 0.001, +5.1 days, p < 0.001; acalculus: mortality OR 3.7, p < 0.001; $43,771, p < 0.001, +6.2 days, p < 0.001) among patients who received cholecystostomy. Results were similar in subset analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients receiving cholecystostomy were more likely to be older and have more comorbidities. Among patients with calculus or acalculus cholecystitis, patients with cholecystostomy had decreased complication rates compared with patients with cholecystectomy. However, patients who received cholecystostomy had increased odds of death, longer length of stay, and higher total charges.

Disparities in outcomes following admission for cholangitis

Introduction

Few have examined determinants of adverse outcomes in patients presenting with ascending cholangitis. The objective of this study was to examine factors associated with in-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay (LOS) and increased hospital charges (HC) in patients presenting with acute cholangitis.

Methods

Within the Health Care Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), we focused on patients, 18 years and older, admitted to the emergency department with cholangitis as primary diagnosis (1998–2009). Models were fitted to predict likelihood of in-hospital mortality, prolonged LOS and increased HC. Covariates included race, day of admission, insurance status, socio-economical status and other patient and hospital characteristics.

Results

Overall, weighted estimates of 248,942 patients were admitted with acute cholangitis between 1998 and 2009, of which 13,534 (5.4%) died during the admission. Multivariable analyses revealed that relative to Caucasian patients, African American, Hispanic and Asian and Pacific Islander patients were more likely to die (OR = 1.61, p<0.001, OR = 1.20, p = 0.01 and OR = 1.26, p = 0.008), to experience a prolonged LOS (OR = 1.77, p<0.001, OR = 1.30, p<0.001, 1.34, p<0.001), and to incur high HC (OR = 1.83, p<0.001, OR = 1.51, p<0.001, OR = 1.56, p<0.001). Moreover, Medicaid and Medicare patients were more likely to die (OR = 1.64, p<0.001, OR = 1.24, p<0.001), to experience a prolonged LOS (1.74, p<0.001, OR = 1.25, p<0.001) and to incur high HC (OR = 1.23, p = 0.002, OR = 1.12, p = 0.002) compared to privately insured patients. In subgroup analysis, there were no differences for Medicare patients age 65 years and over. However, those under 65, most of whom have disability or end stage renal disease, were more likely to experience the negative outcomes.

Conclusion

Race and insurance status represent independent predictors of in-hospital mortality and adverse outcomes in patients presenting with cholangitis. Whether these disparities are due to biological predisposition or unequal quality of care requires further investigation. Regardless, efforts should be made to reduce these outcome disparities.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a single, non-teaching hospital: an analysis of 1557 patients

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy may lead to serious complications, although it is the gold standard treatment for gallstones. In this article, the aim was to review our experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomies.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

All laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed in a single, non-teaching hospital between January 2000 and October 2010 and were reviewed retrospectively to analyze the effect of preoperative risk factors on outcome and the associated major complications.

RESULTS

This study included 1557 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, and the mean age of the patients was 54.1±12.3 years. The mean duration of the operation and the mean length of stay were 43.4 minutes and 1.2 days, respectively. Conversion to an open cholecystectomy was necessary in 39 patients, and thus the conversion rate was 2.5%. In total, 57 (3.7%) complications occurred in 51 patients. Serious common bile duct injury was seen in 4 (0.27%) cases. The other common complications included bile leakage in 10 (0.64%) and postoperative bleeding in 7 (0.45%) patients. The mortality rate was 0.13%. Risk factors for conversion to open surgery were male gender, age >55 years, emergency admission due to acute cholecystitis, and a history of previous acute cholecystitis attacks. Factors that increased the morbidity rate were male gender, an American Society of Anesthesiologists score of III, emergency admission due to acute cholecystitis, and a history of previous acute cholecystitis attacks.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results may serve as a baseline for comparison with future studies done at single, non-teaching hospitals where surgical teams perform laparoscopic cholecystectomies over a long period of time.