Pre-Operative Group and Save in Elective and Emergency Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Necessity, Cost-Effectiveness, and Own Experience.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a high safety profile. This study seeks to quantify the incidence of blood transfusion in both the elective and emergency settings, examine related patient outcomes, and investigate selection criteria for pre-operative Group and Save (G&S) sampling. Methods: A prospective multi-centre observational study was conducted to investigate patients undergoing either elective or emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the UK between January 2020 and May 2021. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to identify patient factors associated with the risk of transfusion and explore outcomes linked to pre-operative G&S sampling. Results: This study comprised 959 patients, with 631 (65.8%) undergoing elective cholecystectomy and 328 (34.2%) undergoing emergency surgery. The median age was 48 years (range: 35-59), with 724 (75.5%) of the patients being female. Only five patients (0.5%) required blood transfusions, receiving an average of three units, with the first unit administered approximately six hours post-operatively. Among these cases, three patients (60%) had underlying haematological conditions. In adjusted models, male gender was significantly associated with the need for a blood transfusion (OR 11.31, p = 0.013), while the presence of a pre-operative Group and Save sample did not demonstrate any positive impact on patient outcomes. Conclusions: The incidence of blood transfusion following laparoscopic cholecystectomy is very low. Male gender and haematological conditions may present as independent risk factors. Pre-operative G&S sampling did not yield any positive impact on patient outcomes and could be safely excluded in both elective and emergency cases, although certain population subsets will warrant further consideration.

Strategy to reduce the risk of positive pancreatic resection margin at pancreatico-duodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of histological assessment of frozen section (FS) of the pancreatic resection margin (PRM) at pancreatico-duodenectomy can be improved by concurrent FS examination of a sample of the suspected pancreatic lesion. METHODS: A prospective trial was conducted using archived material. FS of all the PRM and suspected pancreatic lesion of 12 patients randomly selected from a historical group who underwent pancreatico-duodenectomy for suspected malignancy were examined by five histopathologists. They were asked to examine the PRM alone and alongside the suspected lesion. The diagnosis of the PRM was 'benign', 'malignant' or 'defer to paraffin section'. All the histopathologists were blinded to the paraffin section diagnosis. RESULTS: The main outcome measures were sensitivity, specificity and the incidence of deferring to paraffin section. In this respect examination of the PRM alone had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 87.5%. Concurrent FS examination of PRM with the pancreatic lesion increased the sensitivity to 90% and the specificity to 92.5%. The incidence of deferring to paraffin section was reduced from 17 to 7% (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: This policy is recommended because it improves the diagnostic accuracy of FS evaluation of the PRM resulting in a reduction of residual pancreatic cancer at the pancreatic transection line.

Transgastric surgery for posterior juxtacardial ulcers: a minimal and safe approach.

HYPOTHESIS: A transgastric approach may be used succesfully for the treatment of posterior juxtacardial ulcers presenting with massive bleeding. METHODS: Eight patients were admitted during a 6-year period with acute massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by posterior juxtacardial ulcers. All patients had signs of profound hypovolemic shock, and initial endoscopic control was achieved in 3 patients. They all underwent surgery after endoscopy. At operation, the ulcer was approached through an anteromedial gastrostomy and hemostasis was achieved by transfixing stitches. Ulcers were excised whenever possible, or excluded if adherent posteriorly. Four-quadrant biopsy was taken for frozen section to exclude malignancy. Both anterior and posterior gastric walls were then closed with nonabsorbable suture material. RESULTS: There were 6 men and 2 women with a mean age of 73 years. Hemoglobin levels ranged from 5.2 to 8.0 g/dL. Five patients underwent emergency surgery within 28 hours of admission. The diameter of the ulcers ranged from 2 to 5 cm. Ulcerectomy was performed in 6 cases. In the remaining 2 patients, the crater of the ulcer was adherent to the diaphragm and required exclusion from the gastrointestinal tract. None of the ulcers proved to be malignant, and there were no operative deaths. Patients were followed up for a mean of 3 years with no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Satisfactory results can be achieved with a transgastric approach to these rare ulcers. This allows definitive treatment while avoiding major gastric resection with its potential complications.