Appendicitis and Cholecystitis in Pregnancy.

Up to 2% of pregnant women develop a disease that requires nonobstetrical operative intervention during pregnancy. We discuss the issues unique to pregnant patients as they pertain to the presentation, diagnosis, and management of nonobstetric surgical disease, with an emphasis on 2 of the most common diseases that affect pregnant women: appendicitis and cholecystitis. Surgery has been demonstrated to be safe and effective during pregnancy, provided proper precautions are taken into account. It is the consensus of multiple professional committees and societies that no pregnant women should be delayed or denied a necessary surgery because of pregnancy.

In-hospital Pediatric Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Is Associated With Shorter Hospitalization for Children With Choledocholithiasis.

OBJECTIVES: Children with choledocholithiasis are frequently managed at tertiary children's hospitals that do not have available endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) proceduralists. We hypothesized that patients treated at hospitals without ERCP proceduralists would have a longer hospital length of stay (LOS) than those with ERCP proceduralists. METHODS: Charts were reviewed for patients who underwent cholecystectomy and ERCP at 3 tertiary children's hospitals over 10 years. Trauma and complicated pancreatitis patients were excluded. Comparisons between patients requiring and not requiring transfer for ERCP were made using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous variables and Fisher's exact tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-four children underwent ERCP for suspected choledocholithiasis: 79 (48%) in the transfer group and 85 (52%) in the no transfer group.Median LOS was longer for patients requiring transfer (7 vs 5 days, P < 0.0001). One-third (34%) of the transfer patients had magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography compared to only 7% that did not require transfer (P < 0.0001). Among the 123 patients who underwent ERCP before cholecystectomy, 53% required (66/123) transfer and 47% (57/123) did not. Transfer group patients had longer median hospital LOS (P < 0.0001), more days between admission and ERCP (P < 0.0001), and more days between ERCP and surgery (P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: Overall median LOS was significantly shorter for patients who underwent ERCP at the admitting facility. Patients who underwent ERCP before cholecystectomy at hospitals without available ERCP proceduralists incurred longer LOS. There is a need for more pediatric proceduralists appropriately trained to perform ERCP in children.

Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine carcinoma of gallbladder: case report.

BACKGROUND: Mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine tumors (MINEN) of the gallbladder are extremely rare; indeed, the English expert literature reports a mere handful of case reports and case series on this topic. According to the WHO classification of 2010, MINEN are considered to be tumors consisting of two major components, neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine, each of which hosts at least 30% of the total cellular population. To date, the etiology and pathogenesis of MINEN have not been precisely determined and the non-specific symptoms generally result in late diagnosis (mainly in the terminal stages of the condition) and contribute to the generally poor prognosis. As far as the management of the disease is concerned, radical surgery plays a crucial role; however, the significance of surgical debulking and biological therapy applying somatostatin analogues has not yet been determined. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old female was referred to our department for a rapidly progressing tumor in the subhepatic area along with the infiltration of S5 and S6 liver segments. With regard to preoperative findings, the tumor appeared as operable, although, during the surgery, an extensive involvement of the hepatoduodenal ligament by the tumor through the lymph nodes was revealed. Due to acute perioperative bleeding from the necrotic tumor, we decided to perform modified resection. Histologically, the tumor was confirmed as MINEN of gallbladder, where the neuroendocrine component was dominant over the non-neuroendocrine component. Six weeks after the discharge, the patient underwent a follow-up CT revealing large recurrence of the disease. Thereafter, the patient was started on systemic therapy with etoposide and carboplatin in combination with somatostatin analogues. Thirteen months after the surgery, the patient is in good clinical condition, and while a recently performed PET/MRI scan revealed a hepatic lesion and hilar lymphadenopathy in full regression, there was a spread of small peritoneal and pleural metastases. The patient remains in the follow-up care. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms is extremely rare. Radical surgery remains the only potentially effective approach to the cure of this disease. The role of biological therapy and debulking in the management of the disease has not yet been precisely defined. In our experience, both of these methods have the potential to positively influence overall survival rates and the postoperational quality of life of patients.

Type 1 gallbladder perforation: A rare cause of acute abdomen.

Gallbladder perforation is rare. Diagnosis is usually made during operative intervention. Delay in recognition is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report a case of type 1 gall bladder perforation in a male patient with no previous complaints related to gallstones.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gallbladder drainage reduces adverse events compared with percutaneous cholecystostomy in patients who are unfit for cholecystectomy.

Background and study aim There are no data comparing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided gallbladder drainage (EGBD) with percutaneous cholecystostomy as a treatment for patients with acute cholecystitis. Patients and methods This was a 1 : 1 matched cohort study of all patients who were unfit for cholecystectomy and underwent EGBD or percutaneous cholecystostomy instead for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. The outcomes were matched for age, sex, and American Society of Anesthesiologists grade. Outcome measures included the technical and clinical success rates, adverse events, hospital stay, the number of unplanned admissions, and mortality. Results Between November 2011 and August 2014, a total of 118 patients were included in the study (59 EGBD, 59 percutaneous cholecystostomy). Technical and clinical success rates were similar. In the EGBD group, significantly fewer patients suffered from overall adverse events (19 [32.2 %] vs. 44 [74.6 %]; P < 0.001) and serious adverse events (14 [23.7 %] vs. 44 [74.6 %]; P < 0.001) compared to the percutaneous cholecystostomy group. Patients in the EGBD group required fewer unplanned admissions (4 [6.8 %] vs. 42 [71.2 %]; P < 0.001), which were due to problems related to the cholecystostomy tube in 95.2 %. The 30-day adverse event rates were similar between the groups (17 [28.8 %] vs. 10 [16.9 %]; P = 0.13). For instance, recurrent acute cholecystitis occurred in 0 patients in the EGBD group and in 4 (6.8 %) patients in the percutaneous cholecystostomy group (P = 0.12). The 30-day mortality rates were non-significantly higher in the EGBD group (5 [8.5 %] vs. 1 [1.7 %]; P = 0.21). Conclusions EGBD and percutaneous cholecystostomy were both effective means of achieving gallbladder drainage. EGBD may be a promising alternative to percutaneous cholecystostomy for treatment of acute cholecystitis in patients who are unfit for surgery, provided that experienced endosonographers are available.

[EXPERIENCE OF APPLICATION OF THE ELECTRIC WELDING METHOD FOR BIOLOGICAL TISSUES IN URGENT AND ELECTIVE SURGERY].

The usage experience of the electric welding technologies for biological tissues in 158 patients, while applying Ukrainian high­frequency generator ЕК 300 М1, was presented. Laparoscopic appendectomy, laparoscopic plasty of inguinal hernia, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, open resection of small and large bowel, during which the method of electric welding of biological tissues was applied, had constituted the main surgical interventions. The electric welding usage have permitted to reduce the operation time and the blood volume loss, and also the clipses quantity needed, which are applied for the hemostasis completion and hermetization of anatomic structures after their transsection. Аnalysis of the data obtained witnesses high efficacy of the procedure application for the biological tissues conjunction as well as for acceleration of their reparation processes, occurring after disconnection.

Same-admission versus interval cholecystectomy for mild gallstone pancreatitis (PONCHO): a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis, cholecystectomy during the same hospital admission might reduce the risk of recurrent gallstone-related complications, compared with the more commonly used strategy of interval cholecystectomy. However, evidence to support same-admission cholecystectomy is poor, and concerns exist about an increased risk of cholecystectomy-related complications with this approach. In this study, we aimed to compare same-admission and interval cholecystectomy, with the hypothesis that same-admission cholecystectomy would reduce the risk of recurrent gallstone-related complications without increasing the difficulty of surgery. METHODS: For this multicentre, parallel-group, assessor-masked, randomised controlled superiority trial, inpatients recovering from mild gallstone pancreatitis at 23 hospitals in the Netherlands (with hospital discharge foreseen within 48 h) were assessed for eligibility. Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) were eligible for randomisation if they had a serum C-reactive protein concentration less than 100 mg/L, no need for opioid analgesics, and could tolerate a normal oral diet. Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class III physical status who were older than 75 years of age, all ASA class IV patients, those with chronic pancreatitis, and those with ongoing alcohol misuse were excluded. A central study coordinator randomly assigned eligible patients (1:1) by computer-based randomisation, with varying block sizes of two and four patients, to cholecystectomy within 3 days of randomisation (same-admission cholecystectomy) or to discharge and cholecystectomy 25-30 days after randomisation (interval cholecystectomy). Randomisation was stratified by centre and by whether or not endoscopic sphincterotomy had been done. Neither investigators nor participants were masked to group assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of readmission for recurrent gallstone-related complications (pancreatitis, cholangitis, cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis needing endoscopic intervention, or gallstone colic) or mortality within 6 months after randomisation, analysed by intention to treat. The trial was designed to reduce the incidence of the primary endpoint from 8% in the interval group to 1% in the same-admission group. Safety endpoints included bile duct leakage and other complications necessitating re-intervention. This trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials, number ISRCTN72764151, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between Dec 22, 2010, and Aug 19, 2013, 266 inpatients from 23 hospitals in the Netherlands were randomly assigned to interval cholecystectomy (n=137) or same-admission cholecystectomy (n=129). One patient from each group was excluded from the final analyses, because of an incorrect diagnosis of pancreatitis in one patient (in the interval group) and discontinued follow-up in the other (in the same-admission group). The primary endpoint occurred in 23 (17%) of 136 patients in the interval group and in six (5%) of 128 patients in the same-admission group (risk ratio 0·28, 95% CI 0·12-0·66; p=0·002). Safety endpoints occurred in four patients: one case of bile duct leakage and one case of postoperative bleeding in each group. All of these were serious adverse events and were judged to be treatment related, but none led to death. INTERPRETATION: Compared with interval cholecystectomy, same-admission cholecystectomy reduced the rate of recurrent gallstone-related complications in patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis, with a very low risk of cholecystectomy-related complications. FUNDING: Dutch Digestive Disease Foundation.

Bouveret Syndrome - An Exceptional Complication of a Very Frequent Disease.

The Bouveret syndrome is an exceptional complication of the gallbladder lithiasis. Hereby it is described the case of a patient with a history of gallstones complicated on the long-term outcome with gastric outlet obstruction, due to a large gallstone of the duodenum, migrated via a cholecysto-duodenal fistula. The clinical, radiological features and the patient management are described.

Retained Common Bile Duct Lithiasis at a Pacient with Periampullary Duodenal Diverticulum.

Periampullary duodenal diverticula are associated with the presence of common bile duct stones, being encountered more frequently with the increase of age. We present the case of a 76 years old female patient, who underwents emergency surgery for a perforated lithiasic gangrenous acute cholecystitis and for whom we perform a cholecystectomy and an external biliary drainage using a transcystic tube. Both preoperative and postoperative imaging and endoscopic examinations certify the presence of a periampullary duodenal diverticulum. Postoperative cholangiography performed on the transcystic tube raises the suspicion of retained common bile duct lithiasis. An endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is performed, initially failing to cannulate the common bile duct. A precut sphincterotomy fistula technnique is performed, using as reference a guide inserted on the transcystic tube, with the extraction of biliay sludge from the common bile duct, and with subsequently favorable development. Association between common bile duct lithiasis and a periampullary duodenal diverticulum may represent a therapeutic challenge because of the increased risk of failure of the endoscopic treatment.

PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT MODES OF ANTIBIOTIC PROPHYLAXIS IN CHOLECYSTECTOMY.

Pharmacoeconomic assessment of efficacy of different modes of antibiotic prophylaxis was made in 27 patients with diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis using method of «cost-efficacy¼. Patients have taken ampicillin/sulbactam intravenously in the dose of 1,5 g or cephazolin intravenously in the dose 2,0 g. Medicine should be taken in 30 min. before the operation. The most expensive was antibiotic prophylaxis by cephazolin. The coefficient of «cost-efficacy¼ was 774,2 rubles on 1 unit of efficacy in case of cephazolin and it was 506,1 rubles on 1 unit of efficacy in other group with antibiotic prophylaxis by ampicillin/sulbactam. The authors noted the economical and clinical advantage of antibiotic prophylaxis by ampicillin /sulbactam.

Aneurysm of Pancreatic Artery in Association with Celiac Axis Stenosis: Report of a Case and Review of the Literatures.

A 63-year-old Japanese woman with a history of pemphigus was referred to us for abnormal findings of dynamic abdominal CT where three aneurysms of splenic artery and pancreaticoduodenal artery, celiac axis compression, and gall stone. Superior mesenteric artery supplied hepatic arterial flow via pancreaticoduodenal artery. Avoiding transarterial embolization to prompt arterial ischemia of liver/pancreas head/duodenum, she laparotomically underwent cholecystectomy, splenectomy, transection of median arcurate ligament, and ligation of splenic and inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery all at once. Postoperative course was uneventful except drainage of abdominal abscess, and she remained well without aneurysm recurring 40 months post. Important point of treatment for pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm associated with celiac artery occlusion/stenosis is both preventive solutions for rupture of aneurysm and hepatic/duodenal/pancreatic arterial ischemia. Remaining main arterial supply for the liver via pancreaticoduodenal artery from superior mesenteric artery would prompt recurrent aneurysm of pancreaticoduodenal artery. When a clinician encounters a case of pancreatic aneurysm associated with celiac axis occlusion, the case should be treated using with multimodality such as interventional radiology, and vascular surgery.

Reversal of a rocuronium-induced grade IV anaphylaxis via early injection of a large dose of sugammadex.

AIM: To report rapid recovery from grade IV rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis with a large dose of sugammadex administered early after the onset of symptoms. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 22-yr-old female without relevant medical history developed an anaphylactic reaction within three minutes of rocuronium injection at induction of anesthesia for a routine cholecystectomy. During the first six minutes, she was unresponsive to usual treatment and her condition evolved to a grade IV anaphylaxis reaction despite a cumulated dose of epinephrine 0.7 mg. Sugammadex 14 mg·kg(-1), injected six minutes after rocuronium, resulted in total resolution of all manifestations of anaphylaxis within three minutes. The patient was discharged from hospital the next day. Allergy investigations confirmed rocuronium as the cause of anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Very early administration of a large dose of sugammadex may be an effective treatment for rocuronium-induced anaphylaxis.

Cystic duct with no visible signal on magnetic resonance cholangiography is associated with laparoscopic difficulties: an analysis of 695 cases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the association between the magnetic resonance cholangiography (MRC) results and surgical difficulties and bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). METHODS: MRC was performed on 695 consecutive patients before LC. We divided the patients into two groups (visible cystic duct group and "no signal" cystic duct on MRC group) and compared them with regard to the length of the operation, conversion rate to open cholecystectomy (OC) and rate of bile duct injury. RESULTS: The "no signal" cystic duct on MRC group had a longer operation and higher rate of conversion to OC compared with the visible cystic duct group. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence rate of bile duct injury between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The "no signal" cystic duct on MRC group was associated with laparoscopic difficulties, but not with an increased rate of biliary injury. When a visible cystic duct is not observed on MRC an early conversion to open surgery may avoid a bile duct injury during LC.

[Single incision laparoscopic combined cholecystectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and omentectomy].

Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) is gaining popularity as a modality in surgery which reduces the number and size of skin incisions. General surgeons and urologists were the first to implement this technique, however, recently gynecologists have also started performing SILS procedures. We present the case of a 70 year old female who underwent a combined SILS procedure which included cholecystectomy, bilateral oophorectomy and omentectomy. The procedure lasted 100 minutes and the patient was discharged home the day after the operation. No operative or post-operative complications were noted. In this case report we present the technical details and demonstrate the collaboration between different disciplines which enables performing this complex and demanding procedure.

Cholecystocolonic fistula.

Cholecystoenteric fistulas are a complication of biliary disease, having an estimated incidence in the range of 0.1 - 0.5 percent. Roughly 8-27 percent of these are of the cholecystocolonic type,1 occurring most commonly at the hepatic flexure. An 82-year-old male presented to our tertiary hospital emergency department and was diagnosed with a cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF) by CT imaging. Surgical evaluation confirmed the CT diagnosis with subsequent removal of the fistula and gallbladder, which was curative.

[Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis].

It was done the analysis of surgical treatment results of 383 patients with the exacerbation of chronic calculous cholecystitis and acute obstructive calculous cholecystitis. All patients were operated from traditional and minilaparotomy approaches. Positive results were obtained in 93.2% of patients operated from minilaparotomy approach with a low rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Minilaparotomy cholecystectomy can be considered as a reliable mini invasive method of surgical treatment of patients with cholelithiasis, including purulent destructive forms of cholecystitis.

[Application of cholecystectomy in surgical treatment of chronic calculous cholecystitis].

Morphological peculiarities of the excised gallbladder were studied in 106 patients, ageing from 24 to 74 yrs, who were treated for chronic calculous cholecystitis. Interrelationship between results of ultrasound investigation preoperatively and morphologic forms was established, what have permitted to select the operative intervention procedure, including conduction of organ preserving operations--cholecystolithotomy.

Acute cholecystitis management in high-risk, critically ill, and unfit-for-surgery patients: the Italian Society of Emergency Surgery and Trauma (SICUT) guidelines.

Dealing with acute cholecystitis in high-risk, critically ill, and unfit-for-surgery patients is frequent during daily practice and requires complex management. Several procedures exist to postpone and/or prevent surgical intervention in those patients who temporarily or definitively cannot undergo surgery. After a systematic review of the literature, an expert panel from the Italian Society of Emergency Surgery and Trauma (SICUT) discussed the different issues and statements in subsequent rounds. The final version of the statements was discussed during the annual meeting in Rome (September 2022). The present paper presents the definitive conclusions of the discussion. Fifteen statements based on the literature evidence were provided. The statements gave precise indications regarding the decisional process and the management of patients who cannot temporarily or definitively undergo cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Acute cholecystitis management in high-risk, critically ill, and unfit-for-surgery patients should be multidisciplinary. The different gallbladder drainage methods must be tailored according to each patient and based on the expertise of the hospital. Percutaneous gallbladder drainage is recommended as the first choice as a bridge to surgery or in severely physiologically deranged patients. Endoscopic gallbladder drainage (cholecystoduodenostomy and cholecystogastrostomy) is suggested as a second-line alternative especially as a definitive procedure for those patients not amenable to surgical management. Trans-papillary gallbladder drainage is the last option to be reserved only to those unfit for other techniques. Delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with percutaneous gallbladder drainage is suggested in all those patients recovering from the conditions that previously discouraged surgical intervention after at least 6 weeks from the gallbladder drainage.

Innovations in surgery for gallbladder cancer: A review of robotic surgery as a feasible and safe option.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of robotic-assisted surgical techniques in the treatment of gallbladder cancer, comparing it with traditional open and laparoscopic methods. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature searched for comparative analyses of patient outcomes following robotic, open, and laparoscopic surgeries, focusing on oncological results and perioperative benefits. RESULTS: Five total studies published between 2019 and 2023 were identified. Findings indicate that robotic-assisted surgery for gallbladder cancer is as effective as traditional methods in terms of oncological outcomes, with potential advantages in precision and perioperative recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery offers a viable and potentially advantageous alternative for gallbladder cancer treatment, warranting further research to confirm its benefits and establish comprehensive surgical guidelines.

Expertise-based randomized clinical trial of laparoscopic versus small-incision open cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized clinical trials have compared laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and small-incision open cholecystectomy (SIOC). Most have had wide exclusion criteria and none was expertise-based. The aim of this expertise-based randomized trial was to compare healthcare costs, quality of life (QoL), pain and clinical outcomes after LC and SIOC. METHODS: Patients scheduled for cholecystectomy were randomized to treatment by one of two teams of surgeons with a preference for either LC or SIOC. Each team performed their specific method (SIOC or LC) as a first-choice operation, but converted to open cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration when necessary. Intraoperative cholangiography was carried out routinely. The intention was to include all patients undergoing cholecystectomy, including emergency operations and procedures involving surgical training for residents. RESULTS: Some 74·9 per cent of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy were included. Of 355 patients randomized, 333 were analysed. Self-estimated QoL scores in 258 patients, analysed by the area under the curve method, were significantly lower in the SIOC group at 1 month after surgery: median 2326 (95 per cent confidence interval 2187 to 2391) compared with 2411 (2334 to 2502) for the LC group (P = 0·030). The mean(s.d.) duration of operation was shorter for SIOC: 97(41) versus 120(48) min (P < 0·001). There were no significant differences between the groups in conversion rate, pain, complications, length of hospital stay or readmissions. CONCLUSION: SIOC had comparable surgical results but slightly worse short-term QoL compared with LC. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00370344 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).