Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is superior to delayed acute cholecystitis: a meta-analysis of case-control studies

Optimal timing for cholecystectomy: unveiling insights from a decade-long study on acute cholecystitis and symptomatic cholecystolithiasis

BACKGROUND

Acute calculus cholecystitis affects 10 to 20% of untreated individuals. Thus, the surgical community has argued for decades over whether an earlier or later cholecystectomy is better for this condition.

OBJECTIVES

To compare surgical results, morbidity, and mortality and determine the best timing for surgical intervention among patients with gallstones.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted in Erbil Teaching Hospital, Erbil, Iraq, from January 2013 to December 2023 on 767 patients with acute cholecystitis or symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Patients underwent various types of cholecystectomy (early, intermediate, late, and elective) based on when surgery was conducted after the onset of symptoms. Then, medical treatments were advised, and they were followed up for six weeks. Finally, patients' physical health, postoperative infection severity and complications were assessed, despite reporting patients' age, gender, operation type, chances of conversions, durations of procedure, and hospital stay.

RESULTS

Most patients were females (72.1%), experienced laparoscopic technique (98.44%), and had ASA II (n = 548, 71.44%). The mean age of patients was 48.40 ± 67.14 years, the mean operation time was 50 ± 30.89 min, and the mean hospitalization time before and after operation was 1.0 ± 0.47 and 2.75 ± 1.63 days, respectively. Most patients from the intermediate group (n = 83) opted for a postponed strategy. Chronic inflammation (grade 0 infection severity) was highest in most patients of the delayed (67.2%) and intermediate groups (53.01%). Most patients had no complications (score 0), and the least had severe complications.

CONCLUSION

Delayed surgical intervention was harmless and may even be superior to immediate treatment for acute cholecystitis. The morbidity and mortality hazard remains high even in the most severe cases, especially for individuals who received early and intermediate therapy.

The difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a narrative review

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed general surgical procedures. Difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with increased operative time, hospital stay, complication rates, open conversion, treatment costs, and mortality. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive literature review on difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted for articles published in English up to June 2024 using common databases including PubMed/MIDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Keywords included "safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy", "difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy", "acute cholecystitis", "prevention of bile duct injuries", "intraoperative cholangiography," "bailout procedure," and "subtotal cholecystectomy". Only clinical trials, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, and review articles were included. Studies involving children, robotic cholecystectomy, single incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy, open cholecystectomy, and cholecystectomy for indications other than gallstone disease were excluded.

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

Emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is ideally performed within 72 h of symptom onset, with a maximum window of 7-10 days. Intraoperative cholangiography can help clarify unclear biliary anatomy and detect bile duct injuries. In the "impossible gallbladder", laparoscopic cholecystostomy or gallbladder aspiration may be considered. When dissection of Calot's triangle is deemed hazardous or impossible, the fundus-first approach allows for completion of the procedure with either total cholecystectomy or subtotal cholecystectomy. Subtotal cholecystectomy is effective in preventing bile duct injuries, can be performed laparoscopically, and is currently the best available bailout approach for difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

Difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common clinical scenario that requires a judicious approach by experienced surgeons in appropriate settings. When difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy is encountered, various bailout strategies are available. Currently, subtotal cholecystectomy is likely the most effective bailout approach.

Relapse in gallstone disease after non-operative management of acute cholecystitis: a population-based study

OBJECTIVE

Non-operative management (NOM) of acute cholecystitis (ACC) may be preferable in patients with advanced inflammation, long duration of symptoms or severe comorbidities. This study aims to investigate time to recurrence and patient factors predicting relapse in gallstone complications after NOM.

METHODS

Records of 1634 patients treated for ACC at three Swedish centres between 2017 and 2020 were analysed, with 909 managed non-operatively. Data were linked to the National Gallstone Surgery registry for those who later underwent surgery. The time to relapse of gallstone complications was calculated and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyse new gallstone complications and adjust for multiple variables.

RESULTS

Of the 909 non-operatively managed patients, 348 patients suffered a new gallstone complication. The median time to recurrence was 82 days. Of those who recurred, 27% did so within 30 days, 17% between 31 and 60 days, 27% between 61 days and 6 months, 16% between 6 months and 1 year and 13% later than 1 year. Younger patients with their first gallstone complication had a lower risk of new complications compared with those with previous gallstone complications. In older individuals, there was no difference in the risk of relapse regardless of previous gallstone complications, but they were more likely to be readmitted than younger patients.

CONCLUSION

Delayed cholecystectomy should be prioritised for younger patients with a history of gallstone disease if early cholecystectomy is not feasible. Delayed cholecystectomy should be scheduled without a prior outpatient clinic visit to minimise delays.

Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy, after Percutaneous Gall Bladder Drainage, for Grade II Acute Cholecystitis TG18 in Patients with Concomitant Cardiopulmonary Disease

Background: The advancement in medical care has led to an increase in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) and cardiopulmonary comorbidities referred for surgery. Grade II AC, according to Tokyo Guidelines in 2018 (TG18), is characterized by severe local inflammation with no systemic affection. The optimal treatment for patients with high-risk grade II AC has not yet been clearly established, which is still a dilemma. For these patients, laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), despite being the only definitive treatment, is still a challenge. The introduction of percutaneous cholecystostomy as a temporary minimally invasive alternative technique allows an immediate gallbladder decompression with a rapid clinical improvement. However, the next step after percutaneous transhepatic gall bladder drainage (PTGBD) in these high-risk patients is still a debate, with no definitive consensus about the ideal treatment of choice as well as its optimal timing. In our study, we followed a treatment algorithm for high-risk patients that involved early gallbladder decompression by PTGBD, followed by LC at different intervals once the patient is considered fit for surgery. Method: A retrospective study of 58 patients with high-risk grade II AC with cardiopulmonary comorbidity from our medical records was included. They were managed initially with PTGBD, an LC was then performed either within 7 days after drain insertion (early group, 26 patients), while an LC was performed later for the remaining patients within 6-8 weeks after PTGBD (late group, 32 patients). The results of the two groups were analyzed. Result: Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the late group. No significant difference was found between both groups with regard to operative time, PTGBD-related complications, and major perioperative complications. Timing after PTGBD did not affect the incidence of operative complications. Total hospital stay was significantly shorter in the early group. Conclusion: PTGBD is a safe initial intervention for high-risk patients with AC with a low morbidity and high success rate. Urgent LC after PTGBD can be performed safely for well-selected high-risk patients with the timing of surgery is personalized according to each patient's clinical situation. Early LC (after PTGBD) has the advantage of shorter hospital stay, low cost, as well as avoiding the risk of biliary complications and mortality if waiting a delayed surgery with no significant difference in morbidity compared with late LC.

Preoperative Waiting Time Affects the Length of Stay of Patients Treated via Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in an Acute Care Surgical Setting

Background/Objectives: Acute cholecystitis (AC) presents a significant burden in emergency surgical settings. Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) is the standard of care for AC, yet its implementation varies. This study aims to assess the impact of preoperative waiting time (WT) on postoperative length of stay (LOS) in patients undergoing urgent cholecystectomy. Methods: From June 2021 to September 2022, data on patients undergoing urgent cholecystectomy for AC or pancreatitis were collected from two university hospitals. Patients were categorized into early (ELC) or delayed (DLC) cholecystectomy groups based on WT. The primary outcome was the assessment of the variables influencing LOS via univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: This study included 170 patients, predominantly female, with a median age of 64.50 years. ELC was performed in 58.2% of cases, with a median WT of 0 days, while DLC was performed in 41.8%, with a median WT of 3 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 21.8% of cases, with LOS being significantly shorter in the ELC group (median 5 days vs. 9 days; p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis confirmed that WT (OR 8.08 (1.65-77.18; p = 0.033)) was the most important predictor of LOS. Conclusions: ELC is associated with a shorter LOS and with DLC, aligning with the WSES recommendations. Earlier surgery reduces the risk of complications and overall hospital costs. An extended WT contributes to a prolonged LOS, underscoring the importance of timely access to operating theaters for acute biliary pathologies.

Evaluating the 7-day barrier: early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis with prolonged symptom duration; a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The gold standard for treating acute cholecystitis is an early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. However, whether this still applies for a > 7-day existing cholecystitis remains heavily debated. Therefore, this systematic review investigates the safety of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for a > 7-day existing cholecystitis.

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were systematically searched for all studies comparing early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with 0-7 versus > 7-day existing cholecystitis at time of surgery. Meta-analyses were performed on dichotomous and continuous outcomes with risk difference (RD) and mean difference (MD) as measures of effect.

RESULTS

A total of 3007 studies were screened, resulting in the inclusion of 13 non-randomised studies comprising 5481 patients. Of these, 4690 received cholecystectomy within 7 days, and 791 after 7 days. Operating times (MD -11.8 min; 95% CI [-18.4; -5.2]) and total hospital stay (MD -2.7 days; 95% CI [-4.0; -1.4]) were longer in the > 7-day group. However, no significant risk difference was found for combined major complications: bile duct injury/leakage and bowel injury (RD -1.0%; 95% CI [-2.3; 0.3]), for complications graded Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3 (RD -0.3%; 95% CI [-2.5; 1.9]), or for conversions (RD -1.5%; 95% CI [-3.9; 0.9]).

CONCLUSION

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis after the 7-day barrier might be harder, as reflected by longer operating times. However, a significant increase in complications or conversions was not found. Due to the risk of bias and lack of well-powered studies directly comparing early cholecystectomy after 7 days with alternative strategies, strong recommendations cannot be made. Meanwhile, it is advised to carefully weigh the treatment options in case of a > 7-day existing cholecystitis, based on patient's characteristics and surgeon's experience.

Effect of surgical timing on postoperative outcomes in patients with acute cholecystitis after delayed percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage

BACKGROUND

To date, the optimal timing for percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD), particularly for patients who have missed the optimal window for emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (within 72 hours of symptom onset) has not been determined.

AIM

To study the effects of LC timing on outcomes of grade II/III acute cholecystitis (AC) in patients with delayed PTGBD.

METHODS

Data of patients diagnosed with Tokyo Guidelines 2018 grade II or III AC who underwent delayed PTGBD followed by LC at a single hospital between 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively studied. According to the interval between gallbladder drainage and cholecystectomy, the patients were divided into early and delayed LC groups. Outcomes including surgery time, postoperative complications and hospital stay, and patient satisfaction were analyzed and compared between the two groups using t- and χ 2 tests.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative abdominal drainage tube placement time, pain index, or total disease duration (all P > 0.05). Compared with those of the early LC group, the delayed group showed significant decreases in the length of procedure (surgery time), conversion rate to open surgery, degree of adhesions, surgical complications, postoperative hospital stay, and total treatment costs, and increased patient satisfaction despite a longer interval before PTGBD (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For patients with grade II/III AC with delayed PTGBD, LC should be performed 2 weeks after PTGBD to decrease postoperative complications and hospital stays and improve patient satisfaction.

Evaluation of the surgical management strategy for acute cholecystitis in patients over 75years old

INTRODUCTION

Acute cholecystitis occurs frequently in the elderly. According to the current recommendations specific to the characteristics of each case, these patients are most often treated by delayed cholecystectomy after medical treatment. Our study aimed to compare the success rate of this strategy in patients over and under 75years of age.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective single-center analytic observational study that included patients who were hospitalized for acute cholecystitis in a geriatric postoperative unit (unité postopératoire gériatrique [UPOG]) and gastrointestinal surgery unit between 2021 and 2022. The main endpoint was the failure rate of deferred cholecystectomy. Secondary endpoints included: respect for the recommended operative delay, loss of the patient's functional independence during hospitalization, and the reason for surgical abstention.

RESULTS

In total, 290 patients were included. The strategy of delayed elective cholecystectomy was not achieved in 31 (44%) patients 75years old or older vs. eight (18%) patients younger than 75years old (P=0.005). The main reason was the decision not to operate after medical treatment. In both groups, the recommended operative interval was equitably respected and the loss of autonomy during hospitalization was minor. More than one-third of the elderly patients scheduled for elective surgery finally refused to undergo surgery.

CONCLUSION

The strategy of routine elective cholecystectomy should not be strict in the elderly with acute cholecystitis; the indication for this procedure should take into account the wishes as well as the physiological status of the patient.

Costs of Care for Operative and Nonoperative Management of Emergency General Surgery Conditions

OBJECTIVE

Many emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions can be managed operatively or nonoperatively, with outcomes that vary by diagnosis. We hypothesized that operative management would lead to higher in-hospital costs but to cost savings over time.

BACKGROUND

EGS conditions account for $28 billion in health care costs in the United States annually. Compared with scheduled surgery, patients who undergo emergency surgery are at increased risk of complications, readmissions, and death, with accompanying costs of care that are up to 50% higher than elective surgery. Our prior work demonstrated that operative management had variable impacts on clinical outcomes depending on the EGS condition.

METHODS

This was a nationwide, retrospective study using fee-for-service Medicare claims data. We included patients 65.5 years of age or older with a principal diagnosis for an EGS condition 7/1/2015-6/30/2018. EGS conditions were categorized as: colorectal, general abdominal, hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB), intestinal obstruction, and upper gastrointestinal. We used near-far matching with a preference-based instrumental variable to adjust for confounding and selection bias. Outcomes included Medicare payments for the index hospitalization and at 30, 90, and 180 days.

RESULTS

Of 507,677 patients, 30.6% received an operation. For HPB conditions, costs for operative management were initially higher but became equivalent at 90 and 180 days. For all others, operative management was associated with higher inpatient costs, which persisted, though narrowed, over time. Out-of-pocket costs were nearly equivalent for operative and nonoperative management.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with nonoperative management, costs were higher or equivalent for operative management of EGS conditions through 180 days, which could impact decision-making for clinicians, patients, and health systems in situations where clinical outcomes are similar.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy tube placement as a bridge to cholecystectomy for grade III acute cholecystitis: A national analysis

Introduction

Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PCT) is an alternative to cholecystectomy (CCY) in high-risk surgical candidates with severe acute cholecystitis. A subset of these patients ultimately undergo delayed CCY. We therefore compared outcomes of delayed CCY in patients with grade III acute cholecystitis who received a PCT on index admission, to those who did not.

Methods

Non-elective adult hospitalizations for grade III acute cholecystitis that underwent delayed CCY were identified in the 2016-2020 Nationwide Readmission Database. Patients who received a PCT during their index admission comprised the PCT group (others: Non-PCT). Outcomes were assessed for the CCY hospitalization. Entropy balancing was used to generate sample weights to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics. Regression models were created to evaluate the association between PCT and the outcomes of interest.

Results

Of an estimated 13,782 patients, 13.3 % comprised PCT. Compared to Non-PCT, PCT were older (71.1 ± 13.1 vs 67.4 ± 15.3 years) and more commonly in the highest income quartile (22.5 vs 16.1 %, both p < 0.001). After risk adjustment, PCT was associated with reduced odds of respiratory (AOR 0.67, CI 0.54-0.83) and infectious (AOR 0.77, CI 0.62-0.96) complications after eventual CCY. Finally, PCT had comparable pLOS (β +0.31, CI [-0.14, 0.77]) and operative hospitalization costs (β $800, CI [-2300, +600]).

Conclusion

In the present study, PCT was associated with decreased odds of perioperative complications and comparable resource utilization upon readmission CCY. Our findings suggest that PCT may be helpful in bridging patients with grade III acute cholecystitis to eventual CCY.

Gallbladder volvulus diagnosed intraoperatively: Case report

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare disease whose presentation usually overlaps with that of typical calculous cholecystitis. It's diagnosis is critical as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality and therefore should be managed urgently with cholecystectomy.

CASE PRESENTATION

85-year-old female patient presented with right upper quadrant pain of one day duration that is associated with nausea and vomiting, but no fever or jaundice. She was tachycardiac and had severe abdominal right upper quadrant tenderness with positive Murphy's sign. Laboratory results showed only increase in inflammatory markers. Both ultrasound and computed tomography scan of the abdomen were done and acalculous cholecystitis was diagnosed. Open cholecystectomy was planned and performed, but gallbladder volvulus as the cause of cholecystitis was noted intraoperatively.

DISCUSSION

There is still no consensus on the exact cause of gallbladder volvulus. Even though it presents mostly in elderly patients, different ages have been already reported. It's diagnosis can be suspected based on the appearance, symptoms, and examination of the patient. Laboratory tests and imaging might provide some clues for it's diagnoses. It's ischemic process prompts urgent surgical intervention and does not improve conservatively. Our patient did not present with all of it's typical symptoms and the diagnosis was made intraoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Gallbladder volvulus could have been missed had we not opt for an urgent surgery. More studies should be done to further define its presentation, and accurately know when to consider it up in our differential diagnosis.

Should Procalcitonin Be Included in Acute Cholecystitis Guidelines? A Systematic Review

Background and Objectives: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is a common surgical emergency. Recent evidence suggests that serum procalcitonin (PCT) is superior to leukocytosis and serum C-reactive protein in the diagnosis and severity stratification of acute infections. This review evaluates the role of PCT in AC diagnosis, severity stratification, and management. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus were searched from inception till 21 August 2022 for studies reporting the role of PCT in AC. A qualitative analysis of the existing literature was conducted. Results: Five articles, including 688 patients, were included. PCT ≤ 0.52 ng/mL had fair discriminative ability (Area under the curve (AUC) 0.721, p < 0.001) to differentiate Grade 1 from Grade 2-3 AC, and PCT > 0.8 ng/mL had good discriminatory ability to differentiate Grade 3 from 1-2 AC (AUC 0.813, p < 0.001). PCT cut-off ≥ 1.50 ng/mL predicted difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy (sensitivity 91.3%, specificity 76.8%). The incidence of open conversion was higher with PCT ≥ 1 ng/mL (32.4% vs. 14.6%, p = 0.013). A PCT value of >0.09 ng/mL could predict major complications (defined as open conversion, mechanical ventilation, and death). Conclusions: Current evidence is plagued by the heterogeneity of small sample studies. Though PCT has some role in assessing severity and predicting difficult cholecystectomy, and postoperative complications in AC patients, more evidence is necessary to validate its use.

Utility of Tokyo Guidelines 2018 in early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for mild and moderate acute calculus cholecystitis: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) proposed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for acute calculus cholecystitis (ACC) irrespective of the duration of symptoms. This retrospective study assessed the impact of utility of TG18 in early LC for ACC.

Methods

From 2018 to 2020, 66 patients with mild (grade I) and moderate (grade II) ACC who underwent early surgery were studied. Subgroup analyses were based on timing of surgery and operation time.

Results

A total of 32 and 34 patients were operated within and beyond 7 days since ACC onset. More patients with grade II ACC were in the beyond 7 days group (P < 0.05). More patients with enlarged gallbladder were in the within 7 days group (P < 0.05). The duration of symptoms to admission, symptoms to LC, and operation time were longer in the beyond 7 days group (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences regarding intraoperative blood loss, conversion to bail-out procedures, complication rate, hospital stay, and cost between the two groups (P > 0.05). Longer operation time was significantly associated with duration of symptoms to admission, symptoms to LC, and conversion to laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy (LSC) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

In a subset of carefully selected patients, applying TG18 in early LC for mild and moderate ACC results in acceptable clinical outcomes. Standardized safe steps and conversion to LSC in difficult cases are important.

Urgent versus elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy following percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage for high-risk grade II acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Lap-C) for grade II acute cholecystitis (AC) in high-risk patients who were defined by Tokyo Guideline 18 as having age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index ≥6 or American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA-PS) ≥ 3, compared with elective Lap-C following percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD).

METHODS

In 73 grade II AC patients who underwent Lap-C from January 2012 to March 2021, 35 were identified as high-risk; 22 underwent urgent Lap-C (urgent group) and 13 PTGBD followed by elective Lap-C (elective group). Surgical and perioperative outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in operation time (median: 101 min vs 125 min; P = 0.371), blood loss (25 ml vs 7 ml; P = 0.853), morbidity rate (31.8% vs 38.5%; P = 0.726), or the incidence of total perioperative major complications (13.6% vs 15.4%; P = 1.000) between the two groups. The total duration of treatment was significantly shorter in the urgent group than the elective group (11 days vs 71 days; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that blood loss ≥45 ml [odds ratio (OS): 12.14, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.03-72.42, P = 0.006], and age ≥75 years with ASA-PS ≥ 3 (OS: 9.85, 95%CI: 1.26-77.26, P = 0.03) were the independent risk factors for total perioperative major complications.

CONCLUSION

In well-selected high-risk patients with grade II AC, urgent Lap-C can be performed with comparable safety to elective Lap-C following PTGBD.

Timing of Elective Cholecystectomy After Acute Cholecystitis: A Population-based Register Study

BACKGROUND

Acute cholecystectomy is standard treatment for acute cholecystitis. However, many patients are still treated conservatively and undergo delayed elective surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the ideal time to perform an elective cholecystectomy after acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

All patients treated for acute cholecystitis in Sweden between 2006 and 2013 were identified through the Swedish Patient Register. This cohort was cross-linked with the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery, GallRiks, where information on surgical outcome was retrieved. The impact of the time interval after discharge from hospital to elective surgery was analysed by multivariate logistic regression adjusting for gender and age.

RESULTS

After exclusion of patients not subjected to surgery, not registered in GallRiks and patients treated with acute cholecystectomy, 8532 remained. This cohort was divided into six-time categories. Using the first time interval < 11 days from discharge to elective surgery as the reference category the chance of completing surgery with a minimally invasive technique was increased for all categories (p < 0.05). The risk for perioperative complication and cystic duct leakage was reduced if surgery was undertaken > 30 days after discharge (both p < 0.05). The risk for bile duct injury was significantly increased if the procedure was undertaken > 365 days after discharge (p = 0.030). The chance of completing the procedure within 100 min was not affected by time.

CONCLUSION

For patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy after acute cholecystitis, the safety of the procedure increases if surgery is performed more than 30 days after discharge from the primary admission.

Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of emergency surgery for adult emergency hospital admissions with common acute gastrointestinal conditions: the ESORT study

Background

Evidence is required on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of emergency surgery compared with non-emergency surgery strategies (including medical management, non-surgical procedures and elective surgery) for patients admitted to hospital with common acute gastrointestinal conditions.

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the relative (1) clinical effectiveness of two strategies (i.e. emergency surgery vs. non-emergency surgery strategies) for five common acute conditions presenting as emergency admissions; (2) cost-effectiveness for five common acute conditions presenting as emergency admissions; and (3) clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the alternative strategies for specific patient subgroups.

Methods

The records of adults admitted as emergencies with acute appendicitis, cholelithiasis, diverticular disease, abdominal wall hernia or intestinal obstruction to 175 acute hospitals in England between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2019 were extracted from Hospital Episode Statistics and linked to mortality data from the Office for National Statistics. Eligibility was determined using International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes, which were agreed by clinical panel consensus. Patients having emergency surgery were identified from Office of Population Censuses and Surveys procedure codes. The study addressed the potential for unmeasured confounding with an instrumental variable design. The instrumental variable was each hospital’s propensity to use emergency surgery compared with non-emergency surgery strategies. The primary outcome was the ‘number of days alive and out of hospital’ at 90 days. We reported the relative effectiveness of the alternative strategies overall, and for prespecified subgroups (i.e. age, number of comorbidities and frailty level). The cost-effectiveness analyses used resource use and mortality from the linked data to derive estimates of incremental costs, quality-adjusted life-years and incremental net monetary benefits at 1 year.

Results

Cohort sizes were as follows: 268,144 admissions with appendicitis, 240,977 admissions with cholelithiasis, 138,869 admissions with diverticular disease, 106,432 admissions with a hernia and 133,073 admissions with an intestinal obstruction. Overall, at 1 year, the average number of days alive and out of hospitals at 90 days, costs and quality-adjusted life-years were similar following either strategy, after adjusting for confounding. For each of the five conditions, overall, the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) around the incremental net monetary benefit estimates all included zero. For patients with severe frailty, emergency surgery led to a reduced number of days alive and out of hospital and was not cost-effective compared with non-emergency surgery, with incremental net monetary benefit estimates of –£18,727 (95% CI –£23,900 to –£13,600) for appendicitis, –£7700 (95% CI –£13,000 to –£2370) for cholelithiasis, –£9230 (95% CI –£24,300 to £5860) for diverticular disease, –£16,600 (95% CI –£21,100 to –£12,000) for hernias and –£19,300 (95% CI –£25,600 to –£13,000) for intestinal obstructions. For patients who were ‘fit’, emergency surgery was relatively cost-effective, with estimated incremental net monetary benefit estimates of £5180 (95% CI £684 to £9680) for diverticular disease, £2040 (95% CI £996 to £3090) for hernias, £7850 (95% CI £5020 to £10,700) for intestinal obstructions, £369 (95% CI –£728 to £1460) for appendicitis and £718 (95% CI £294 to £1140) for cholelithiasis. Public and patient involvement translation workshop participants emphasised that these findings should be made widely available to inform future decisions about surgery.

Limitations

The instrumental variable approach did not eliminate the risk of confounding, and the acute hospital perspective excluded costs to other providers.

Conclusions

Neither strategy was more cost-effective overall. For patients with severe frailty, non-emergency surgery strategies were relatively cost-effective. For patients who were fit, emergency surgery was more cost-effective.

Future work

For patients with multiple long-term conditions, further research is required to assess the benefits and costs of emergency surgery.

Study registration

This study is registered as reviewregistry784.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (IHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 11, No. 1. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic upon Non-Elective Admissions and Surgery at a Safety-Net Hospital

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Conclusions

Gallbladder Volvulus: A Review

Gallbladder volvulus is an uncommon condition that mostly affects older women. The cause of gallbladder volvulus is unknown, although intraoperative evidence of a floating gallbladder with a twisting of its pedicle, resulting in gallbladder ischemia, may lead to subsequent complications. Gallbladder volvulus symptoms are similar to acute cholecystitis, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Early detection and prompt surgical intervention are critical for reducing morbidity and mortality. Even though numerous case reports have been published since 1898, gallbladder volvulus remains challenging to diagnose preoperatively. As a result, a high level of suspicion is required to prompt cholecystectomy and avoid further complications. We review the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic strategies, and treatment of this disease.

The effect of surgical strategy in difficult cholecystectomy cases on postoperative complications outcome: a value-based healthcare comparative study

BACKGROUND

In patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for complicated biliary disease, complication rates increase up to 30%. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of differences in surgical strategy comparing outcome data of two large volume hospitals.

METHODS

A prospective database was created for all the patients who underwent a LC in two large volume hospitals between January 2017 and December 2018. In cases of difficult cholecystectomy in clinic A, regular LC or conversion were surgical strategies. In clinic B, laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy was performed as an alternative in difficult cases. The difficulty of the cholecystectomy (score 1-4) and surgical strategy (regular LC, subtotal cholecystectomy, conversion) were scored. Postoperative complications, reinterventions, and ICU admission were assessed. For predicting adverse postoperative complication outcomes, uni- and multivariable analyses were used.

RESULTS

A total of 2104 patients underwent a LC in the study period of which 974 were from clinic A and 1130 were from clinic B. In total, 368 procedures (17%) were scored as a difficult cholecystectomy. In clinic A, more conversions were performed (4.4%) compared to clinic B (1.0%; p < 0.001). In clinic B, more subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed (1.8%) compared to clinic A (0%; p =  < 0.001). Overall complication rate was 8.2% for clinic A and 10.2% for clinic B (p = 0.121). Postoperative complication rates per group for regular LC, conversion, and subtotal cholecystectomy in difficult cholecystectomies were 45 (15%), 12 (24%), and 7 (35%; p = 0.035), respectively. The strongest predictor for Clavien-Dindo grade 3-5 complication was subtotal cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

Surgical strategy in case of a difficult cholecystectomy seems to have an important impact on postoperative complication outcome. The effect of a subtotal cholecystectomy on complications is of great concern.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Management of Acute Cholecystitis and Assessment of the Crisis Approach: A Multicenter Experience in Egypt

INTRODUCTION

The covid-19 pandemic has had a drastic impact on all medical services. Acute cholecystitis is a serious condition that accounts for a considerable percentage of general surgical acute admissions. Therefore, the Royal College of Surgeons' Commissioning guidance' recommended urgent admission to secondary care and early cholecystectomy. During the first wave of hospital admissions associated with COVID-19, most guidelines recommended conservative treatment in order to limit the admission rates and free up spaces for COVID-19-infected patients. However, reviews of this approach have not been widely done to assess the results and, in turn, planning our future management approach when future pressures on in-patient admissions are inevitable.

METHODS

Our study included all acute cholecystitis patients who needed surgical intervention in one Centre in the UK over three distinct periods (pre-COVID-19, during the first lockdown, and lockdown ease). Comparison between these groups were done regarding intraoperative and postoperative results.

RESULTS

The conservative management led to a high rate of readmission. Moreover, delayed cholecystectomy was associated with increased operative difficulties such as extensive adhesions, intraoperative blood loss, and/or complicated gall bladder pathologies such as perforated or gangrenous gall bladder (29.9%, 16.7%, and 24.8%, respectively). The resulting postoperative complications of surgical and nonsurgical resulted in a longer hospital stay (13.5 d).

CONCLUSION

The crisis approach for acute cholecystitis management failed to deliver the hoped outcome. Instead, it backfired and did the exact opposite, leading to longer hospital stays and extra burden to the patient and the healthcare system.

Canine extrahepatic biliary disease: what have we learned?

Extrahepatic biliary disease in dogs is commonly encountered in clinical practice worldwide. Diseases in this segment of the biliary tract are diverse and can manifest with mild clinical signs or can be life-threatening. In the last decade there have been advances in diagnostic tests, imaging modalities and therapeutic interventions as well as the identification of novel prognostic variables that could improve outcomes in dogs with extrahepatic biliary disease. Therefore, the objective of this review was to summarise clinically relevant updates of extrahepatic biliary disease in dogs.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is safe regardless of timing

PURPOSE

The optimal timing for laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (AC) has not been resolved. In the revised Tokyo Guidelines from 2018 (TG18), early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) is recommended regardless of the duration of symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of ELC compared with delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) for AC. In addition, we assessed the perioperative outcomes after ELC based on duration of symptoms.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of patients operated for acute calculous cholecystitis from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018, at Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev. ELC was divided into three subgroups based on the duration of symptoms from onset to operation, ≤ 72 h, > 72-120 h, > 120 h.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty-two patients underwent ELC and 26 (10.5%) patients underwent DLC. We found no difference in mortality, morbidity, conversion rate, or bile duct injuries between DLC and ELC or in the subgroups based on duration of symptoms. We found significantly longer total hospital length of stay for patients with symptoms > 72 h (4.1-5.6 days) compared to ≤ 72 h (3.1 days) and the longest in DLC (9.9 days). Twenty-three percent of DLC needed an emergency operation in the waiting period with a high conversion rate (1/3).

CONCLUSION

ELC for AC even beyond 5 days of symptoms is safe and not associated with increased complications. The duration of symptoms in AC is not an independent predictor and should not influence the surgeonsmsdecision to perform an ELC. Delaying cholecystectomy has a high failure rate.

One-stage versus two-stage management for acute cholecystitis associated with common bile duct stones: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Both one-stage [laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) plus laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE)] and two-stage [endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by sequential LC] approaches are effective treatment for concomitant common bile duct (CBD) stones and gallstone. Although many studies compared one-stage with two-stage surgical approach for cholecysto-choledocholithiasis, there are very few studies compared the two management strategies for acute cholecystitis (AC) associated with CBD stones.

METHODS

Between January 2014 and December 2019, patients with concomitant AC and CBD stones proposed to early surgery were retrospectively studied. The patients were scheduled to undergo either the one-stage [LCBDE and LC (LCBDE+LC) were undertaken at the same operation] or two-stage [preoperative ERCP for CBD stone clearance was followed by LC 1-3 days later (pre-ERCP+LC)] procedure. The success rate of complete stone clearance, procedure-related complication, hospital stay, hospitalization charges and later biliary complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Sixty patients were included in the study, 28 in the one-stage group and 32 in the two-stage group. There was no significant difference in the success rate of complete stone clearance (96.4% vs. 93.8%, P = 1.000), complication rate (10.7% vs. 9.4%, P = 1.000), incidence of pancreatitis (0 vs. 6.3%, P = 0.494) or length of hospital stay (12 ± 5 vs. 11 ± 4 days, P = 0.393) between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

For patients with concomitant AC and choledocholithiasis proposed to early surgery, both the one-stage (LCBDE+LC) and two-stage (pre-ERCP+LC) approaches were acceptable and broadly comparable in achieving clearance of CBD stones.

Fast track pathway provides safe, value based care on busy acute care surgery service

BACKGROUND

Fast track (FT) pathways have been adopted across a multitude of elective surgeries but have been slow to be adopted into the acute care surgery realm. We hypothesized that an FT pathway for acute cholecystitis patients would decrease patient length of stay and resource utilization.

METHODS

All patients at two hospitals, one with an FT pathway and one with a traditional pathway, who underwent an urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis between May 1, 2019, and October 31, 2019, were queried using CPT codes. Exclusion criteria were conversion to open or partial cholecystectomy. Retrospective chart review was used to gather demographics, operative, hospital course, and outcomes. Time to operating room, hospital length of stay, and resource utilization were the primary outcomes.

RESULTS

There was a total of 479 urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed, 430 (89.8%) were performed under the FT pathway. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) time to the operating room was not different: 14.1 hours (IQR, 8.3-29.0 hours) for FT and 18.5 hours (IQR, 11.9-25.9 hours) for traditional (p = 0.316). However, the median length of stay was shorter by 15.9 hours in the FT cohort (22.6 hours; IQR, 14.2-40.4 hours vs. 38.5 hours; IQR, 28.3-56.3 hours; p < 0.001). Under the FT pathway, 33.0% of patients were admitted to the hospital and 75.6% were discharged from the postanesthesia care unit, compared with 91.8% and 12.2% on the traditional pathway (both p < 0.001). There were 59.6% of the FT patients that received a phone call follow up, as opposed to 100% of the traditional patients having clinic follow up (p < 0.001). The emergency department bounce back rate, readmission rates, and complication rates were similar (p > 0.2 for all). On multivariate analysis, having a FT pathway was an independent predictor of discharge within 24 hours of surgical consultation (odds ratio, 7.65; 95% confidence interval< 2.90-20.15; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Use of a FT program for patients with acute cholecystitis has a significant positive impact on resource utilization without compromise of clinical outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/care management, level IV.

Timing of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis impacts surgical morbidity and mortality: an NSQIP database analysis

The aim of this study is to identify the optimal timing for cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Patients undergoing cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis from the National Surgery Quality Improvement Program database between 2014 and 2016 were included. The patients were divided into 4 groups, those who underwent surgery at days 0, 1, 2, or 3+ days. The primary outcome was short-term surgical morbidity and mortality. A total of 21,392 patients were included. After adjusting for confounders, compared to day 0 patients, those who underwent surgery at day 1 and day 2 had lower composite morbidity rate, while day 3+ patients had significantly higher bleeding and mortality rate. Subgroup analysis shows this trend to be more significant in the elderly and in diabetic patients who were delayed. Delay in cholecystectomy for over 72 h from admission is associated with statistically significant increase in bleeding and mortality.

Gallbladder Disorders: A Comprehensive Review

Gallbladder disorders encompass a wide breadth of diseases that vary in severity. We present a comprehensive review of literature for the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation, and management of cholelithiasis-related disease, acute acalculous cholecystitis, functional gallbladder disorder, gallbladder polyps, gallbladder hydrops, porcelain gallbladder, and gallbladder cancer.

Does early surgery imply a critical risk for patients with Grade III acute cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND

For patients with Grade III acute cholecystitis (AC), several factors have been proposed in the 2018 Tokyo guidelines as caution signs in performing early surgery. However, these factors have not been externally validated in detail.

METHODS

This retrospective study examined 35 patients who had been diagnosed with Grade III AC and treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2008 and July 2019. The patients were allocated into an early group (patients who underwent surgery within 7 days of admission, n = 28) and a delayed group (patients who underwent surgery at least 8 days after admission, n = 7). Comparisons were made between these groups.

RESULTS

No patients died. Significantly more patients required a conversion to open surgery (0% vs 28.5%, P = .003) or conversion to subtotal cholecystectomy (25.0% vs 71.4%, P = .020) in the delayed group than in the early group, and the total length of postoperative stay was significantly longer in the delayed group (11.4 vs 27.2 days, P = .001). The presence of negative predictive factors or risk factors listed in the 2018 Tokyo guidelines was not associated with death or postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Early surgery was considered appropriate and feasible for select patients who had Grade III AC and preoperative risk factors.

A Modified AUGIS Delphi Process to Establish Future Research Priorities in Benign Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of our study was to use a modified Delphi process to determine the research priorities amongst benign upper gastrointestinal (UGI) surgeons in the United Kingdom.

METHODS

Delphi methodology may be utilised to develop consensus opinion amongst a group of experts. Members of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland were invited to submit individual research questions via an online survey (phase I). Two rounds of prioritisation by multidisciplinary expert healthcare professionals (phase II and III) were completed to determine a final list of high-priority research questions.

RESULTS

Four hundred and twenty-seven questions were submitted in phase I, and 51 with a benign UGI focus were taken forward for prioritisation in phase II. Twenty-eight questions were ranked in phase III. A final list of 11 high-priority questions had an emphasis on acute pancreatitis, Barrett's oesophagus and benign biliary disease.

CONCLUSION

A modified Delphi process has produced a list of 11 high-priority research questions in benign UGI surgery. Future studies and awards from funding bodies should reflect this consensus list of prioritised questions in the interest of improving patient care and encouraging collaborative research.

Does preoperative MRCP imaging predict risk for conversion to subtotal cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis?

BACKGROUND

Subtotal cholecystectomy (SC) is a useful procedure for avoiding bile duct injury in patients with difficult gallbladder. However, risk factors for conversion to SC, especially preoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) findings that predict conversion to SC, have not been investigated in detail.

METHODS

A total of 290 patients with acute cholecystitis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our hospital between November 2011 and March 2020 were included. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were reviewed, and preoperative clinical factors predicting conversion to SC were investigated.

RESULTS

Forty-three patients underwent SC, whereas the remaining 247 patients underwent total cholecystectomy. An American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of 3 or greater (p = 0.011), surgery on or after 9 days from symptom onset (p < 0.001), obscuration of the gallbladder wall around the neck on MRCP images (p = 0.010) and disruption of the common hepatic duct on MRCP images (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with conversion to SC. Logistic regression analyses revealed that an ASA score of 3 or greater (odds ratio = 2.667, p = 0.020), surgery on or after 9 days from symptom onset (odds ratio = 4.229, p < 0.001) and disruption of the common hepatic duct on MRCP images (odds ratio = 4.478, p = 0.002) were independent predictors for conversion to SC.

CONCLUSIONS

Early surgery yielded a lower risk for conversion to SC. Disruption of the common hepatic duct on preoperative MRCP images is associated with a risk for conversion to SC.

Practical Approaches for High-Risk Surgical Patients with Acute Cholecystitis: The Percutaneous Approach versus Endoscopic Alternatives

In high-risk surgical patients with acute cholecystitis who are not candidates for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy, gallbladder (GB) drainage is an alternative treatment option. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) is a recommended first line intervention because of its high efficacy and feasibility in most centers. However, with the advent of endoscopic accessories and technology, endoscopic GB drainage has been chosen as a more favorable choice by endoscopists. Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) can be performed under either fluoroscopic or peroral cholangioscopic guidance via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography by the transpapillary placement of a long double-pigtail stent. In a patient with common bile duct stones, this procedure is accompanied with stone removal. ETGBD is especially useful for acute cholecystitis patients who are contraindicated for PTGBD or those with severe coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and abnormal anatomy. Moreover, the advantage of ETGBD is its preservation of the external GB structure. Thereby it would not disturb the future cholecystectomy. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD) using plastic, fully covered metallic, or lumen-apposing metal stents transmurally has emerged as a modality for GB drainage with higher technical and clinical success rates. EUS-GBD can provide a more permanent GB drainage than PTGBD and ETGBD.

Surgical trends in the management of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Since 2007, clinical practice guidelines by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) recommend early surgical management with laparoscopic cholecystectomy for pregnant women with symptomatic gallbladder disease regardless of trimester. However, little is known about practice patterns in the management of pregnant patients with acute cholecystitis. This study aims to examine nationwide trends in the surgical management of acute cholecystitis, as well as their impact on clinical outcomes during pregnancy.

METHODS

The National Inpatient Sample was queried for all pregnant women diagnosed with acute cholecystitis between January 2003 and September 2015. After applying appropriate weights, multivariate regression analysis adjusted for patient- and hospital-level characteristics and quantified the impact of discharge year (2003-2007 versus 2008-2015) on cholecystectomy rates and timing of surgery. Multivariate regression analysis was also used to examine the impact of same admission cholecystectomy and its timing on maternal and fetal outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 23,939 pregnant women with acute cholecystitis satisfied our inclusion criteria. The median age was 26 years (interquartile range: 22-30). During the study period, 36.3% were managed non-operatively while 59.6% and 4.1% underwent laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was more commonly performed after 2007 (odds ratio [OR] 1.333, p < 0.001). Furthermore, time from admission to surgery was significantly shorter in the latter study period (regression coefficient -0.013, p < 0.001). Compared to non-operative management, laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis was significantly associated with lower rates of preterm delivery, labor, or abortion (OR 0.410, p < 0.001). Each day that laparoscopic cholecystectomy was delayed significantly associated with an increased risk of fetal complications (OR 1.173, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This nationwide study exhibits significant trends favoring surgical management of acute cholecystitis during pregnancy. Although further studies are still warranted, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered in pregnant patients with acute cholecystitis.

Gallbladder wall thickness as a predictor of intraoperative events during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A prospective study of 1089 patients

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has a wide range of technical difficulty. Preoperative risk stratification is essential for adequate planning and patient counseling. We hypothesized that gallbladder wall thickness (GWT) is more objective marker than symptom duration in predicting complexity, as determined by operative time (OT), intraoperative events (IE), and postoperative complications.

METHODS

All adult patients who underwent LC during 2010-2018 were included. GWT, measured on imaging and on the histopathologic exam, was divided into three groups: <3 mm (normal), 3-7 mm and >7 mm. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to determine the association between GWT and 1) operative time, 2) the incidence of IE and 3) postoperative outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 1089 patients, subjects to LC, were included in the study. GWT was positively correlated with median OT (p < 0.001), the incidence of IE (p < 0.001) and median length of hospital stay (p < 0.001). GWT independently predicted IE (OR = 2.1 95% CI: 1.3-3.4) and outperformed symptom duration, which was not significantly associated with any of the outcomes (p = 0.7).

CONCLUSIONS

GWT independently predicted IE and may serve as an objective marker of LC complexity.

Safe Cholecystectomy Multi-society Practice Guideline and State of the Art Consensus Conference on Prevention of Bile Duct Injury During Cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

BDI is the most common serious complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To address this problem, a multi-society consensus conference was held to develop evidenced-based recommendations for safe cholecystectomy and prevention of BDI.

METHODS

Literature reviews were conducted for 18 key questions across 6 broad topics around cholecystectomy directed by a steering group and subject experts from 5 surgical societies (Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and European Association for Endoscopic Surgery). Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation methodology. When evidence-based recommendations could not be made, expert opinion was documented. A number of recommendations for future research were also documented. Recommendations were presented at a consensus meeting in October 2018 and were voted on by an international panel of 25 experts with greater than 80% agreement considered consensus.

RESULTS

Consensus was reached on 17 of 18 questions by the guideline development group and expert panel with high concordance from audience participation. Most recommendations were conditional due to low certainty of evidence. Strong recommendations were made for (1) use of intraoperative biliary imaging for uncertainty of anatomy or suspicion of biliary injury; and (2) referral of patients with confirmed or suspected BDI to an experienced surgeon/multispecialty hepatobiliary team.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus recommendations should provide guidance to surgeons, training programs, hospitals, and professional societies for strategies that have the potential to reduce BDIs and positively impact patient outcomes. Development of clinical and educational research initiatives based on these recommendations may drive further improvement in the quality of surgical care for patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Predictive factors for developing acute cholangitis and/or cholecystitis in patients undergoing delayed cholecystectomy: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND

/Objective: We evaluated the risk of acute cholangitis and/or cholecystitis while waiting for cholecystectomy for gallstones.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled 168 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for gallstones after conservative therapy. We compared clinical data of 20 patients who developed acute cholangitis and/or cholecystitis while waiting for cholecystectomy (group A) with 148 patients who did not develop (group B). We investigated surgical outcomes and risk factors for developing acute cholangitis and/or cholecystitis.

RESULTS

Preoperatively, significant numbers of patients with previous history of acute grade II or III cholecystitis (55.0% vs 10.8%; p < 0.001) and biliary drainage (20.0% vs 2.0%; p = 0.004) were observed between groups A and B. White blood cell counts (13500/μL vs 8155/μL; p < 0.001) and C-reactive protein levels (12.6 vs 5.1 mg/dL; p < 0.001) were significantly higher in group A than in group B; albumin levels (3.2 vs 4.0 g/dL; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in group A. Gallbladder wall thickening (≥5 mm) (45.0% vs 18.9%; p = 0.018), incarcerated gallbladder neck stones (55.0% vs 22.3%; p = 0.005), and peri-gallbladder abscess (20.0% vs 1.4%; p = 0.002) were significantly more frequent in group A than in group B. A higher conversion rate to open surgery (20.0% vs 2.0%; p = 0.004), longer operation time (137 vs 102 min; p < 0.001), and higher incidence of intraoperative complications (10.0% vs 0%; p = 0.014) were observed in group A, compared with group B.

CONCLUSION

A history of severe cholecystitis may be a risk factor for acute cholangitis and/or cholecystitis in patients waiting for surgery; it may also contribute to increased surgical difficulty.

The use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly: the FRAILESEL Italian Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

As the world population is aging rapidly, emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen in the elderly represents a global issue, both in developed and developing countries. Data regarding all the elderly patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery from January 2017 to December 2017 at 36 Italian surgical departments were analyzed with the aim to appraise the contemporary reality regarding the use of emergency laparoscopy for acute abdomen in the elderly. 1993 patients were enrolled. 1369 (68.7%) patients were operated with an open technique; whereas, 624 (31.3%) underwent a laparoscopic operation. The postoperative morbidity rate was 32.6%, with a statically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (36.2% versus 22.1%, p < 0.001). The reported mortality rate was 8.8%, with a statistically significant difference between the open and the laparoscopic groups (11.2% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001). Our results demonstrated that patients in the ASA II (58.1%), ASA III (68.7%) and ASA IV (88.5%) groups were operated with the traditional open technique in most of the cases. Only a small percentage of patients underwent laparoscopy for perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer repair (18.9%), adhesiolyses with/without small bowel resection (12.2%), and large bowel resection (10.7%). Conversion to open technique was associated with a higher mortality rate (11.1% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001) and overall morbidity (38.9% versus 22.1%, p = 0.001) compared with patients who did not undergo conversion. High creatinine (p < 0.001) and glycaemia (p = 0.006) levels, low hemoglobin levels (p < 0.001), oral anticoagulation therapy (p = 0.001), acute respiratory failure (p < 0.001), presence of malignancy (p = 0.001), SIRS (p < 0.001) and open surgical approach (p < 0.001) were associated with an increased risk of postoperative morbidity. Regardless of technical progress, elderly patients undergoing emergency surgery are at very high risk for in-hospital complications. A detailed analysis of complications and mortality in the present study showed that almost 9% of elderly patients died after surgery for acute abdomen, and over 32% developed complications.

Safe cholecystectomy multi-society practice guideline and state-of-the-art consensus conference on prevention of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Bile duct injury (BDI) is the most common serious complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To address this problem, a multi-society consensus conference was held to develop evidenced-based recommendations for safe cholecystectomy and prevention of BDI.

METHODS

Literature reviews were conducted for 18 key questions across six broad topics around cholecystectomy directed by a steering group and subject experts from five surgical societies (SAGES, AHPBA IHPBA, SSAT, and EAES). Evidence-based recommendations were formulated using the GRADE methodology. When evidence-based recommendations could not be made, expert opinion was documented. A number of recommendations for future research were also documented. Recommendations were presented at a consensus meeting in October 2018 and were voted on by an international panel of 25 experts with greater than 80% agreement considered consensus.

RESULTS

Consensus was reached on 17 of 18 questions by the Guideline Development Group (GDG) and expert panel with high concordance from audience participation. Most recommendations were conditional due to low certainty of evidence. Strong recommendations were made for (1) use of intraoperative biliary imaging for uncertainty of anatomy or suspicion of biliary injury; and (2) referral of patients with confirmed or suspected BDI to an experienced surgeon/multispecialty hepatobiliary team.

CONCLUSION

These consensus recommendations should provide guidance to surgeons, training programs, hospitals, and professional societies for strategies that have the potential to reduce BDIs and positively impact patient outcomes. Development of clinical and educational research initiatives based on these recommendations may drive further improvement in the quality of surgical care for patients undergoing cholecystectomy.

Operative complications and economic outcomes of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

BACKGROUND

Recent management of acute cholecystitis favors same admission (SA) or emergent cholecystectomy based on overall shorter hospital stay and therefore cost savings. We adopted the practice of SA cholecystectomy for the treatment of acute cholecystitis at our tertiary care center and wanted to evaluate the economic benefit of this practice. We hypothesized that the existence of complications, particularly among patients with a higher degree of disease severity, during SA cholecystectomy could negate the cost savings.

AIM

To compare complication rates and hospital costs between SA vs delayed cholecystectomy among patients admitted emergently for acute cholecystitis.

METHODS

Under an IRB-approved protocol, complications and charges for were obtained for SA, later after conservative management (Delayed), or elective cholecystectomies over an 8.5-year period. Patients were identified using the acute care surgery registry and billing database. Data was retrieved via EMR, operative logs, and Revenue Cycle Operations. The severity of acute cholecystitis was graded according to the Tokyo Guidelines. TG18 categorizes acute cholecystitis by Grades 1, 2, and 3 representing mild, moderate, and severe, respectively. Comparisons were analyzed with χ², Fisher’s exact test, ANOVA, t-tests, and logistic regression; significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

Four hundred eighty-six (87.7%) underwent a SA while 68 patients (12.3%) received Delayed cholecystectomy. Complication rates were increased after SA compared to Delayed cholecystectomy (18.5% vs 4.4%, P = 0.004). The complication rates of patients undergoing delayed cholecystectomy was similar to the rate for elective cholecystectomy (7.4%, P = 0.35). Mortality rates were 0.6% vs 0% for SA vs Delayed. Patients with moderate disease (Tokyo 2) suffered more complications among SA while none who were delayed experienced a complication (16.1% vs 0.0%, P < 0.001). Total hospital charges for SA cholecystectomy were increased compared to a Delayed approach ($44500 ± $59000 vs $35300 ± $16700, P = 0.019). The relative risk of developing a complication was 4.2x [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4-12.9] in the SA vs Delayed groups. Among eight patients (95%CI: 5.0-12.3) with acute cholecystitis undergoing SA cholecystectomy, one patient will suffer a complication.

CONCLUSION

Patients with Tokyo Grade 2 acute cholecystitis had more complications and increased hospital charges when undergoing SA cholecystectomy. This data supports a selective approach to SA cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Prevalence and impact of cholecystitis on outcome in dogs with gallbladder mucocele

BACKGROUND

Gallbladder mucocele is a potentially life-threatening extrahepatic biliary disease in dogs. The primary aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of cholecystitis in dogs with gross and histopathologically confirmed gallbladder mucocele and to investigate if there is an association between cholecystitis, including its subtypes (eg, acute, acute on chronic, with necrosis, chronic), and survival. Our secondary objective was to evaluate if there is an association between cholecystitis and intraoperative bacteriological culture positivity.

KEY FINDINGS

Two hundred nineteen dogs with gallbladder mucocele were included in this multi-institutional retrospective study, of which 63 (28.8%) dogs had histopathological evidence of cholecystitis. The most common forms of cholecystitis were acute on chronic (n = 22/63, 34.9%) and with necrosis (n = 20, 31.7%). Thirty-one (14.1%) dogs had growth of at least 1 bacterial isolate; however, 88.7% had antimicrobials administered within the 48 hours before surgery or intraoperatively. There was not an association between cholecystitis or its subtypes and survival. Furthermore, there was not an association between cholecystitis and intraoperative bacteriological culture positivity. A total of 38 (17.4%) dogs either died or were euthanized during hospitalization.

SIGNIFICANCE

Cholecystitis is a common comorbidity in dogs with gallbladder mucocele but was not associated with decreased survival.

Controversias en el manejo de la colecistitis aguda tardía

La colecistitis aguda es la inflamación de la vesícula biliar, en la mayoría de los casos, explicada por la presencia de cálculos mixtos o de colesterol que producen obstrucción y desencadenan factores inflamatorios diversos. La colecistectomía por vía laparoscópica se ha convertido en su tratamiento estándar y definitivo. El procedimiento quirúrgico debe realizarse idealmente en las primeras 72 horas después de iniciados los síntomas, lo que habitualmente se denomina como cuadro agudo. Existe controversia sobre cuál es el manejo más adecuado cuando han pasado más de 72 horas del inicio de los síntomas, condición denominada ‘colecistitis aguda tardía’, cuando se considera que el proceso inflamatorio es mayor y, el procedimiento, técnicamente más complejo y peligroso. Para esta condición, se han establecido dos estrategias iniciales de manejo: la cirugía temprana –durante la hospitalización inicial– o el tratamiento conservador con antibióticos para la supuesta resolución completa de la inflamación, es decir, ‘enfriar el proceso’; varias semanas después, se practica una colecistectomía laparoscópica tardía –diferida o electiva–. Existen muchas publicaciones sobre ambas estrategias, en las que se exponen los beneficios y probables complicaciones de cada una; en la actualidad, se sigue debatiendo sobre el momento óptimo para practicar la intervención quirúrgica. Los trabajos más recientes y con mayor peso epidemiológico, resaltan los beneficios de la cirugía temprana pues, aunque las complicaciones intraoperatorias ocurren en las mismas proporciones, la cirugía en la hospitalización inicial reduce los costos, los reingresos y los tiempos hospitalarios. Después de revisar la literatura disponible a favor y en contra, este artículo pretende recomendar el procedimiento temprano, inclusive cuando hayan pasado más de tres días de iniciados los síntomas y, solo en casos muy seleccionados, diferir la cirugía.

Effectiveness of a quality improvement collaborative in reducing time to surgery for patients requiring emergency cholecystectomy

Background

Acute gallstone disease is a high-volume emergency general surgery presentation with wide variations in the quality of care provided across the UK. This controlled cohort evaluation assessed whether participation in a quality improvement collaborative approach reduced time to surgery for patients with acute gallstone disease to fewer than 8 days from presentation, in line with national guidance.

Methods

Patients admitted to hospital with acute biliary conditions in England and Wales between 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2017 were identified from Hospital Episode Statistics data. Time series of quarterly activity were produced for the Cholecystectomy Quality Improvement Collaborative (Chole-QuIC) and all other acute National Health Service hospitals (control group). A negative binomial regression model was used to compare the proportion of patients having surgery within 8 days in the baseline and intervention periods.

Results

Of 13 sites invited to join Chole-QuIC, 12 participated throughout the collaborative, which ran from October 2016 to January 2018. Of 7944 admissions, 1160 patients had a cholecystectomy within 8 days of admission, a significant improvement (P < 0·050) from baseline performance. This represented a relative change of 1·56 (95 per cent c.i. 1·38 to 1·75), compared with 1·08 for the control group. At the individual site level, eight of the 12 Chole-QuIC sites showed a significant improvement (P < 0·050), with four sites increasing their 8-day surgery rate to over 20 per cent of all emergency admissions, well above the mean of 15·3 per cent for control hospitals.

Conclusion

A surgeon-led quality improvement collaborative approach improved care for patients requiring emergency cholecystectomy.

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy by a dedicated emergency surgical unit confers excellent outcomes in acute cholecystitis presenting beyond 72 hours

BACKGROUND

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) within 72 h of symptom onset is preferred for management of acute cholecystitis (AC). Beyond 72 h, acute-on-chronic fibrosis sets in rendering surgery challenging. This study aims to compare the outcomes of ELC for AC within and beyond 72 h of symptom onset by a dedicated acute surgical unit.

METHODS

This is a single-centre retrospective study of 217 patients with AC who underwent ELC by an acute surgical unit from January 2017 to August 2018. Outcomes collected include post-operative morbidity, length of hospitalization and operation duration. A subgroup analysis for the same outcomes was performed for elderly patients.

RESULTS

Of the 217 patients, 88 were operated within 72 h of symptom onset while 129 were operated beyond 72 h. Twenty-six patients received ELC after 7 days. There was no occurrence of bile duct injury. There was no statistical difference in conversion rates, wound infections and post-operative collections. Patients receiving ELC beyond 72 h had longer duration of operation (125.4 versus 116 min, P = 0.035) and length of hospitalization (4.59 versus 3.09 days, P = 0.001) without increase in morbidity. Patients older than 75 years had a higher incidence of post-operative collection (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Patients with AC undergoing ELC by a dedicated acute surgical unit can have good outcomes even beyond 72 h of symptom onset. Meticulous haemostasis should be performed for the elderly subgroup of patients.

Predicting operative difficulty of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute biliary presentations

BACKGROUND

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is advocated in patients with an acute biliary presentation but may require some precaution. We aimed to assess the intra-operative difficulty of cholecystectomy in patients who underwent early intervention, and to establish a prediction model for a 'complicated' LC.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from patients presenting to the emergency department with acute biliary symptoms, and who subsequently underwent early LC between 2015 and 2018. Operative difficulty was assessed by standardized grading of intra-operative findings (grades 1-4). Pre-operative predictors for a 'complicated' LC (grades 3/4) were assessed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. A prediction model was created using variable regression coefficients. Cut-off and accuracy of the model were assessed using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

A total of 185 patients were included and 59% presented with acute cholecystitis. In this cohort 113 (61%) patients underwent a 'complicated' LC. A prediction model for a 'complicated' LC (0-4.5 points) included: clinical diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (2 points), C-reactive protein >10.5 mg/L (1.5 points) and pericholecystic fluid on pre-operative imaging (1 point). A score ≥2.5 had a sensitivity of 77.7%, specificity of 81.7% and positive and negative predictive values of 87.0% and 69.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Early LC may be 'complicated' in up to 60% of cases. The presented prediction model uses readily available information in the emergency department and is a simple but accurate way to predict a likely 'complicated' LC in patients with acute biliary presentations.

Assessment of the optimal timing for early laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis: a prospective study of the Club Coelio

Background: The optimal timing for cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis remains controversial. The aim of this study is to assess prospectively the impact of the duration of symptoms on outcomes in early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) for acute cholecystitis. Methods: The series consisted of 276 consecutive patients who underwent ELC for acute cholecystitis in 2016. The patients were divided into three groups according to the timing of surgery: within the first 3 days (group 1), between 4 and 7 days (group 2) and beyond 7 days (group 3) from the onset of symptoms. Results: The percentage of surgical procedure rated as difficult was respectively: 12% in G1, 18% in G2 and 38% in G3 (p < .001). Accordingly, we observed an increased mean operative time within groups but no significant difference in the conversion rate. We noted a different overall postoperative complication rate within groups, respectively: 9% in G1, 14% in G2 and 24% in G3 (p < .04). The median hospital stay was also different within groups, respectively: 3 in G1, 4 in G2 and 6 days in G3 (p < .001). On univariate analysis, age ≥60, male gender, ASA 3, WBC ≥13.000/µL, CRP ≥100 mg/l and delay between onset of symptoms and surgery were factors statistically associated with increased morbidity rate. On multivariate analysis, the delay was the only independent predictive factor of postoperative morbidity (OR: 1,08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.61, p < .031). Conclusion: Our study confirms that it is ideal to perform ELC within 3 days of symptoms onset and reasonable between 4 to 7 days. We do not recommend performing ELC beyond 7 days because of more difficult procedure and significantly increased risk of post-operative complications.