Laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy in patients with sickle cell disease: which approach is superior?

Perioperative care of children with sickle cell disease: A systematic review and clinical recommendations

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) require specific perioperative care, and clinical practice in this area remains poorly defined. We aimed to conduct a systematic, PRISMA-based review of the literature, available clinical guidelines and practice recommendations. We also aimed to extract any valuable information for the "best of available-evidence"-based prevention of perioperative adverse events in children with SCD, and highlight the most urgent priorities in clinical research. As data sources, US National Library of Medicine, Medline, National Guideline Clearinghouse, International Guideline Network, TRIP databases were searched for any content until January 2019. We also included institutional, consortia and expert group guidelines. Included were reports/guidelines in English, French, German, and Italian. Excluded were reports on obstetrical and fetal management. We identified 202 reports/guidelines fulfilling the criteria outlined above. A majority focused on visceral, cardiovascular and orthopedic surgery procedures, and only five were multicenter randomized controlled trials and two prospective randomized studies. After grading of the quality of the evidence, the extracted data was summarized into clinical recommendations for daily practice. Additionally, we designed a risk-grading algorithm to identify contexts likely to be associated with adverse outcomes. In conclusion, we provide a systematic PRISMA-based review of the existing literature and ancillary practice and delineate a set of clinical recommendations and priorities for research.

The Inflammatory Response to Surgery in Sickle Cell Disease Patients Undergoing Cholecystectomy

Background and Objectives:

Patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) may have elevated inflammatory markers in health, and this may be heightened after open operations. The inflammatory response of patients with SCA after minimally invasive surgeries has not been fully explored.

Patients and Methods:

Consecutive patients with SCA and with hemoglobin AA (HbAA) undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis were recruited into the study. Blood samples were taken before induction of anesthesia (0-h); at 4, 12, 24, and 48 h; and on postoperative day 7. Samples were analyzed for serum C-reactive protein and interleukin (IL)-1 through IL-18.

Results:

Twenty-three patients, including 9 with SCA and 14 with HbAA, were recruited with 4 cases performed by open laparotomy. At 0-h, proinflammatory IL-1 levels (6.1 versus 4.8) and C-reactive protein levels (32.5 versus 26.6) were higher in patients with hemoglobin SS (HbSS) than in patients with HbAA, respectively. Over time, inflammatory markers were generally higher at each time-point for patients with HbSS compared with patients with HbAA for both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, rising immediately after surgery and up to 48 hours, then returning to baseline by postoperative day 7. There was a higher mean IL-1 level across all time-points in the HbSS group than in the HbAA group (P = .04).

Conclusion:

This exploratory study found an enhanced inflammatory response to cholecystectomy in patients with SCA compared with patients with HbAA. Minimally invasive surgical strategies for this patient group may help to mediate this response.

Cholelithiasis and its complications in sickle cell disease in a university hospital

INTRODUCTION

The clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease are related to the polymerization of hemoglobin S. The chronic hemolysis caused by this condition often causes the formation of gallstones that can migrate and block the common bile duct leading to acute abdomen.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the profile of patients with sickle cell disease and cholelithiasis.

METHODS

Patients with sickle cell disease were separated into groups according to the presence or absence of cholelithiasis. Socioepidemiological and clinical characteristics, such as gender, age, use of hydroxyurea and the presence of other hemoglobinopathies were researched in the medical records of patients.

RESULTS

A hundred and seven patients with sickle cell anemia were treated at the institution. Of these, 27 (25.2%) had cholelithiasis. The presence of cholelithiasis was higher in the 11-29 age group than in younger than 11 years and over 29 years. No association was found for the presence of cholelithiasis with gender, use of hydroxyurea or type of hemoglobinopathy (hemoglobin SS, hemoglobin SC or sickle beta-thalassemia). Sixteen of the patients had to be submitted to cholecystectomy with 14 of the surgeries being performed by laparoscopy. Complications were observed in three patients and one patient died for reasons unrelated to the surgery.

CONCLUSION

A quarter of patients with sickle cell disease had gallstones, more commonly in the 11- to 29-year age range. Patients should be monitored from childhood to prevent cholelithiasis with preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative care being crucial to reduce the risk of complications in these patients.

Prophylactic laparoscopic cholecystectomy in adult sickle cell disease patients with cholelithiasis: A prospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Prophylactic laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains controversial and has been discussed for selected subgroups of patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis who are at high risk of developing complications such as chronic haemolytic conditions. Cholelithiasis is a frequent condition for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Complications from cholelithiasis may dramatically increase morbidity for these patients. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic cholecystectomy in SCD patients with asymptomatic gallbladder stones.

METHODS

From January 2000 to June 2014, we performed 103 laparoscopic cholecystectomies on SCD patients. Fifty-two patients had asymptomatic cholelithiasis. The asymptomatic patients were prospectively enrolled in this study, and all underwent a prophylactic cholecystectomy with an intraoperative cholangiography. The symptomatic patients were retrospectively studied. Upon admission, all patients were administered specific perioperative management including intravenous hydration, antibiotic prophylaxis, oxygenation, and intravenous painkillers, as well as the subcutaneous administration of low-molecular-weight heparin. During the same period, 51 patients with SCD underwent a cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis. We compared these 2 groups in terms of postoperative mortality, morbidity, and hospital stay.

RESULTS

There were no postoperative deaths or injuries to the bile ducts in either group. In the asymptomatic group, we observed 6 postoperative complications (11.5%), and in the symptomatic group, there were 13 (25.5%) postoperative complications.

DISCUSSION

Regarding the SCD complications, we observed 1 case (2%) of acute chest syndrome in an asymptomatic cholelithiasis patient, while there were 3 cases (6%) in the symptomatic group. Vaso-occlusive crisis was observed in 1 patient (2%) with asymptomatic cholelithiasis, and in 4 patients (8%) in the other group. The mean hospital stay averaged 5.8 (4-17) days for prophylactic cholecystectomy and 7.96 (4-18) days for the comparative symptomatic group.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative complications related to SCD were less frequent for asymptomatic patients who had a laparoscopic prophylactic cholecystectomy. This intervention, if performed with perioperative specific management, is safe and helps avoid emergency operations for acute complications including cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, and cholangitis. For SCD patients, a prophylactic cholecystectomy reduces hospital stays.

Colelitíase no paciente pediátrico portador de doença falciforme

OBJETIVO: Considerando a alta freqüência da colelitíase no paciente pediátrico com doença falciforme e a controvérsia na literatura sobre a abordagem da condição, o presente texto objetiva revisar a literatura disponível. FONTE DE DADOS: Revisão dos estudos sobre colelitíase no paciente falciforme, publicados no período entre 1980 e 2007, em língua inglesa e portuguesa, envolvendo pacientes na faixa etária de zero a 18 anos e utilizando os bancos de dados Medline e Lilacs. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: A colelitíase é a complicação digestiva mais comum no paciente falciforme e sua incidência aumenta com a faixa etária. Os mecanismos fisiopatológicos são conhecidos, assim como os métodos diagnósticos. A conduta terapêutica consensual na colelitíase sintomática é a colecistectomia, preferencialmente por via laparoscópica. Nos casos assintomáticos, a maioria dos autores recomenda a conduta cirúrgica, para evitar complicações, confusão no diagnóstico diferencial de dor abdominal futura e menor risco cirúrgico. Contudo, não existe consenso na literatura, havendo base para a adoção de conduta expectante. CONCLUSÕES: A doença falciforme tem grandes variações em sua apresentação clinica, história natural e gravidade da hemólise. Algumas populações podem apresentar menor freqüência de colelitíase e menor número de pacientes sintomáticos, possivelmente em razão de variações de haplótipos, fatores ambientais e diferentes manejos clínicos. Ainda não existem dados suficientes na literatura ou estudos randomizados e controlados que possibilitem definir o momento ideal para a colecistectomia no paciente falciforme com litíase assintomática. Dessa maneira, dependendo de características individuais e da população, podem ser aceitos o seguimento clínico ou a indicação precoce de colecistectomia.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in sickle cell disease]

STUDY AIM

Sickle cell affection is a public health problem in Africa. The aims of this prospective study were to evaluate the early results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in sickle cell patients in Senegal.

METHOD

From January 1998 to June 2002 all the sickle cell patients undergoing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included. Intra- and post-operative protocol (blood transfusion if Hb < 9 g/dl, rehydration, oxygenotherapy) was standardized.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients with sickle cell of types SS-33 and AS9 were operated upon by same surgeon. One case of conversion due to an effraction of biliary junction was reported. One homozygote patient died post-operatively because of peritonitis. Two acute thoracic syndromes, three vaso-occlusive crisis, and two cases of wound infection constituted the post-operative morbidity. No case of complication was noted in those who underwent pre-operative transfusion.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be carried out in sickle cell patients with biliary lithiasis provided that general anaesthetic rules are respected.

The role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of acute cholecystitis in patients with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND

As emergency surgery in sickle cell disease patients is associated with high morbidity, the aim of the study was to assess the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the acute state for these patients.

METHODS

Over a 5-year period, April 1994 till December 1998, 35 sickle cell patients with acute cholecystitis had laparoscopic cholecystectomy within the first 5 days of presentation. A retrospective study of these was undertaken.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were diagnosed as having acute cholecystitis with sickle cell disease. There were 26 female and 9 male patients; 5 patients needed preoperative and 1 patient needed postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Twenty-seven patients needed simple transfusion and 8 needed partial exchange; conversion was necessary in two cases (5.7%). The mean hospital stay was 5.3 days and the complication rate was 17.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the lack of significant complications, we believe that laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is safe and recommended in experienced hands with adequate preoperative preparation for patients with sickle cell disease.