Revision of the AAST grading scale for acute cholecystitis with comparison to physiologic measures of severity

Minimally invasive subtotal cholecystectomy. What surgeons need to know

Minimally invasive laparoscopic cholecystectomy is among the most frequently performed abdominal surgeries. Bile duct injury is a significative complication that occurs in about 0.2-0.3% of open procedures and 0.5% of laparoscopic surgeries, with concomitant vasculobiliary injuries in 12-61% of cases. Most of these lesions occurs during challenging severe cholecystitis where the intense inflammation obscures the hepatocystic anatomy. In this case a bailout strategy such as a subtotal cholecystectomy should be considered. Subtotal cholecystectomy is a surgical technique performed to remove a portion of the gallbladder while leaving part of it behind. In such complex cholecystectomies, surgeons should be aware of this technique, and subtotal cholecystectomy should be part of their surgical armamentarium. We aim to familiarize surgeons with bailout techniques like subtotal cholecystectomy and gallbladder emptying for challenging acute cholecystectomy cases to reduce the risk of vasculobiliary injury. This multimedia article provides, a comprehensive step-by-step overview of the different possible minimally invasive subtotal cholecystectomy procedures, we outline five distinct techniques for conducting subtotal cholecystectomy, including some tips and tricks and demonstrates the usefulness of a minimally invasive approach. Finally, we emphasize the importance of carefully choosing between laparoscopic and robotic approaches and suggests using adjunctive tools, such as preoperative indocyanine green, to better identify common bile duct anatomy.

The evaluation of feasibility of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy using intraoperative instillation of bupivacaine: a retrospective observational study

Purpose

This study aimed to compare outcomes of opioid patients-controlled anesthesia (PCA) and intraoperative local anesthesia in terms of postoperative pain, lab results, patient surveys, and discharge scores to evaluate the feasibility of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

Patients who underwent LC for acute cholecystitis were assigned to the outpatient surgery (OPS) group or inpatient surgery (IPS) group according to the surgeon. In the OPS group, a mixture of bupivacaine and epinephrine was injected into trocar sites and sprayed on the surgical dissection field. Oral opioid and analgesics were given twice a day. In the IPS group, patients received opioid PCA. Numeric rating scale (NRS) for walking, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), CRP, self-assessed survey on general physical condition and discharge, and discharge score of ambulatory surgery were assessed postoperatively.

Results

NRS was significantly lower in the OPS group. There were no significant differences in ESR and CRP between the groups. Self-assessed survey on general conditions and the possibility of discharge were significantly better in the OPS group. The discharge scores at 3, 6, and 9 hours were significantly higher in the OPS group.

Conclusion

Intraoperative instillation of bupivacaine at port sites and dissection fields had a better effect on short-term postoperative pain, patient surveys, and discharge criteria of ambulatory surgery than opioid PCA.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy assisted by combined intravenous and intracholecystic fluorescent cholangiography: a case report

This case report describes a laparoscopic approach using fluorescence imaging guidance to treat gangrenous cholecystitis with perforation (GCP). A male patient in his early 60s presented with 3 days of right upper abdominal pain. Computed tomography and ultrasonography findings were consistent with a stone incarcerated in the gallbladder neck, GCP, and localized peritonitis. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage was initially performed, followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy 7 days later, using combined intravenous and intracholecystic fluorescent cholangiography. This technique allowed visualization of the cystic and common bile ducts during surgery and enabled safe removal of the diseased gallbladder. The patient recovered well without complications, and reported no pain or discomfort at a 2-month follow-up.

When Not to Operate on Acute Cases-A Surgeon's Perspective on Rapid Assessment of Emergency Abdominopelvic Computed Tomography

Clinical problem solving evolves in parallel with advances in technology and discoveries in the medical field. However, it always reverts to basic cognitive processes involved in critical thinking, such as hypothetical-deductive reasoning, pattern recognition, and compilation models. When dealing with cases of acute abdominal pain, clinicians should employ all available tools that allow them to rapidly refine their analysis for a definitive diagnosis. Therefore, we propose a standardized method for the quick assessment of abdominopelvic computed tomography as a supplement to the traditional clinical reasoning process. This narrative review explores the cognitive basis of errors in reading imaging. It explains the practical use of attenuation values, contrast phases, and windowing for non-radiologists and details a multistep protocol for finding radiological cues during CT reading and interpretation. This systematic approach describes the salient features and technical tools needed to ascertain the causality between clinical patterns and abdominopelvic changes visible on CT scans from a surgeon's perspective. It comprises 16 sections that should be read successively and that cover the entire abdominopelvic region. Each section details specific radiological signs and provides clear explanations for targeted searches, as well as anatomical and technical hints. Reliance on imaging in clinical problem solving does not make a decision dichotomous nor does it guarantee success in diagnostic endeavors. However, it contributes exact information for supporting the clinical assessments even in the most subtle and intricate conditions.