Outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a new gold standard for cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To contribute our experience for five years in the implemetation of outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). PATIENTS: Between January 1999 and March 2004 we performed 504 outpatient LCs. We applied both exclusion and inclusion criteria, an anesthetic and surgical protocol, and discharge-specific criteria. Postoperative management in "fast track" regime. Postoperative period controlled by protocol, including phone calls after cholecystectomy. RESULTS: The ambulatory percentage in the global series was 88.8%, and mean hospital stay was 6.1 hours. Fifty-one patients required overnight stays (10.1%), most of them for "social" causes. Five patients required admission (between 24 and 48 hours) for different causes (conversion to laparotomy, intraoperative neumothorax, and postoperative medical complications). Six patients (1.1%) were readmitted, and we observed 11.6% postoperative complications in the global series, with abdominal parietal pain being most frequent. Phone localization by 22.00 p.m. in the same day of surgery was 100% complete for outpatient cases. Postoperative surveillance within the first month after surgery was completed in 93.9%, and within th first year in 86.7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient LC is safe and feasible, and probably represents a new "gold standard" in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis.

Quality of life (GIQLI) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy usefulness in patients with gallbladder dysfunction or chronic non-lithiasic biliary pain (chronic acalculous cholecystitis).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, clinical features and role of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in patients with chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC) in comparison with a control group of patients who underwent cholecystectomy for chronic calculous cholecystitis (CCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective evaluation of 34 patients with CAC in contrast with 297 patients with CCC. OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical presentation, quality of life using the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), usefulness derived from the therapeutic procedure as measured in quality of life units by GIQLI, and clinical efficacy at one year of follow-up. RESULTS: The incidence of complicated biliary disease was higher in CAC (27%), in comparison with CCC (13.8%). The histological study of the excised gallbladder revealed a higher incidence of cholesterolosis associated with chronic cholecystitis in the CAC group (64.9%). GIQLI showed significant differences between preoperative and postoperative measurements in both groups. The associated usefulness of LC was similar in both groups (73 versus 67.3 percent), confirming an important increase in quality of life for both categories. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CAC is 11 per cent with a high association with cholesterolosis. Quality of life and LC usefulness are similar to those of patients with CCC. Due to the fact that cholecistogammagraphy is a technique not available in daily clinical practice, and that oral cholecystography and dynamic ultrasound are reliable when a positive result is obtained, extended clinical evaluation is still the most reliable indicator for cholecystectomy.

Total quality management in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Quality of care and quality perception in ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of acceptance and perception of quality in patients undergoing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PATIENTS: 84 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy within SVS (Servei Valencia de Salut) through a special plan for waiting lists. METHODS: A prospective analysis of related variables with quality perception evaluated by a specialized nurse with no interaction with the surgical team. RESULTS: Ambulatory acceptance, 80 percent; return to work or daily activities at 72 hours after surgery, 40 percent. Extra need of medical attention was as follows: emergency general practitioner 2.7 percent, emergency room attention in 1.3 percent, extra telephone interview with the surgeon 6.0 percent. Global estimation of the procedure was very good or good by 94.7 percent. CONCLUSIONS: High acceptance rate, high quality perception. Up to 20 percent of patients would change from ambulatory to traditional surgery, possibly due to cultural factors.

Prospective analysis of marlex mesh repair for symptomatic rectocele with obstructive defecation.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of perineoplasty with marlex mesh in symptomatic rectocele with obstructive defecation and evaluation of the incidence of postobstetric perineal tear in patients with symptomatic rectocele. DESIGN: Prospective analysis of 11 consecutive patients undergoing elective rectocele repair. Prospective analysis of sphicnter postobstetric tears in patients with rectocele. RESULTS: Incidence of postobstetric perineal tears in 100 per cent of patients. Absence of obstructive defecation symptoms in 100 per cent of patients. Mesh displacement in 5/8 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Endoanal ultrasound secreening in patients with symptomatic rectocele is mandatory. Prosthetic repair eliminates obstructive defecation symptoms in 100 per cent of patients. Mesh is well tolerated although it has to be fixed in the suprasphincteric area and with non reabsorbable stitches.

[Duodenal stenosis: a rare complication of acute pancreatitis]. / Estenosis duodenal orgánica. Una complicación infrecuente de la pancreatitis aguda.

Duodenal stenosis is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis. We present 5 cases and suggest a protocol of treatment based on intubation of the stenosis and nutritional support via nasojejunal feeding tube. This non-invasive method facilitated adequate control in 3 of the 5 cases. Total parenteral nutrition should be left for cases with severe stenosis, and surgery for those in which conservative treatment fails after a period of five weeks.