Transillumination of Calot's Triangle on Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Feasible Approach to Achieve a Critical View of Safety

A timeline of surgical lighting - Is automated lighting the future?

High quality surgical lighting is central to successful performance in the operating room and therefore to both patient care and treatment. This article discusses the origins of surgical lighting from the 1800s to today, with a focus on the four main forms. Their uses, advantages, and disadvantages are evaluated in an effort to identify the improvements required to improve today's current state of surgical lighting. Whilst these four mainstream types have served well for the past thirty years, the literature exposes opportunities for improvement and can be used to guide the pathway to transition from manual conventional methods to a more automated lighting (AL) approach. The concept of AL has been proposed using established and known technical approaches such as artificial intelligence (AI), 3D sensor tracking algorithms and thermal imaging. Whilst AL seems incredibly promising, further focused research must be undertaken to maximise its' effectiveness and allow for successful integration of this new technology into operating rooms today.

Analysis of risk factors for complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To analyze the risk factors of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 478 patients in our hospital.

METHODS

The clinical data of 478 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our hospital from March 2018 to September 2022 were collected, and the occurrence of postoperative complications and related risk factors were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 36 patients (7.53%) had complications, including 9 cases (1.88%) of abdominal hemorrhage, 8 cases (1.67%) of bile duct injury, and 19 cases (3.97%) of biliary fistula. Univariate analysis showed that adhesions of Calot triangle, anatomical variation and gallbladder wall thickness greater than 5 mm were associated with postoperative complications (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that: Calot triangle adhesion (OR = 3.041, 95%CI = 1.422-6.507), anatomical variation (OR = 4.368, 95%CI = 1.764-10.813) and gallbladder wall thickening (OR = 2.827, 95%CI = 1.422-6.507). 95%CI = 1.274-6.275) were independent risk factors for complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In order to reduce the occurrence of postoperative complications, the risk factors of LC should be well understood and the preoperative preparation should be made.

Indocyanine green fluorescent cholangiography improves the clinical effects of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy

BACKGROUND

Near-infrared fluorescent cholangiography (NIRFC) with indocyanine green (ICG) as the developer yields clear visualization of the extrahepatic bile ducts and is effective in identifying key structures. Here, we analyzed and compared the surgical outcomes of fluorescent and conventional laparoscopy in cholecystectomy of various difficulties and then assessed the value of NIRFC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study collected clinical data from partial patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) at the Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between 2020 and 2021. The study subjects were classified into ICG-assisted and white-light laparoscopy. Two cohorts with homogeneous baseline status were selected based on 1:1 ratio propensity score matching (PSM). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to predict independent risk factors for LC difficulty. Thereafter, the matched cases were classified into difficult and easy subgroups by combining difficulty score and gallbladder disease type, and then the surgical outcomes of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

This study included a total of 624 patients. The patients were classified into the ICG group (n = 218) and the non-ICG group (n = 218) after a 1:1 ratio PSM. Our data showed significant differences between the groups in operative time (P = 0.020), blood loss (P = 0.016), length of stay (P = 0.036), and adverse reaction (P = 0.023). Stratified analysis demonstrated that ICG did not significantly improve the surgical outcomes in simple cases (n = 208). On the other hand, in difficult cases (n = 228), NIRFC shortened operative time (P = 0.003) and length of stay (P = 0.015), reduced blood loss (P = 0.028) and drain placement rate (P = 0.015), and had fewer adverse reactions (P = 0.023). The data showed that five cases were converted to laparotomy while two cases had minor bile leaks in the non-ICG group. There was no bile duct injury (BDI) in all the cases. Furthermore, high BMI, history of urgent admission and abdominal surgery, palpable gallbladder, thickened wall, and pericholecystic collection were risk factors for surgical difficulty.

CONCLUSION

ICG-assisted NIRFC provides real-time biliary visualization. In complicated conditions such as acute severe inflammation, dense adhesions, and biliary variants, the navigating ability of fluorescence can enhance the operation progress, reduce the possibility of conversion or serious complications, and improve the efficiency and safety of difficult LC.

Analysis of risk factors for bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy in China: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To explore the risk factors of bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in China through meta-analysis.

METHODS

The study commenced with a search and selection of case-control studies on the risk factors for bile duct injury in LC in China using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceNet.cn, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and VIP. Data were extracted from the collected documents independently by 2 researchers, following which a meta-analysis of these data was performed using Revman 5.3.

RESULTS

The compilation of all data from a total of 19 case-control studies revealed that among 41,044 patients, 458 patients experienced bile duct injury in LC, accounting for the incidence rate of 1.12% for bile duct injury. The revealed risk factors for bile duct injury were age (≥40 years) (odds ratio [OR] = 6.23, 95% CI [95% confidence interval]: 3.42-11.33, P < .001), abnormal preoperative liver function (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.50-2.70, P < .001), acute and subacute inflammation of gallbladder (OR = 8.35, 95% CI: 5.32-13.10, P < .001; OR = 4.26, 95% CI: 2.73-6.65, P < .001), thickening of gallbladder wall (≥4 mm) (OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 2.34-4.34, P < .001), cholecystolithiasis complicated with effusion (OR = 3.05, 95% CI: 1.39-6.71, P = .006), and the anatomic variations of the gallbladder triangle (OR = 11.82, 95% CI: 6.32-22.09, P < .001). However, the factors of gender and overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) were not significantly correlated with bile duct injury in LC.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, age (≥40 years), abnormal preoperative liver function, gallbladder wall thickening, acute and subacute inflammation of the gallbladder, cholecystolithiasis complicated with effusion, and anatomic variations of the gallbladder triangle were found to be closely associated with bile duct injury in LC.