Correction to: Quantifying the extent of fistulotomy. How much sphincter can we safely divide? A three-dimensional endosonographic study.

In the Fig. 1 of the original published version of this article the numbers were switched as well as in the text of Results section, lines 5 and 6. The revised figure and the corrected text are now presented correctly in this article.

[Evaluation of the gastrointestinal quality of life index as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Evaluación del gastrointestinal quality of life index como sistema de selección para la priorización de pacientes en lista de espera de colecistectomía laparoscópica.

INTRODUCTION: We prospectively evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) through the gastrointestinal quality of life index (GIQLI) as a system to prioritize patients on the waiting list for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and its correlation with a linear prioritization system developed in the General and Gastrointestinal Surgery Institute of Clínica Quirón in Valencia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 100 consecutive patients who underwent elective outpatient LC. The main outcome measures consisted of: 1) assessment of the impact of the disease, measured through the GIQLI; 2) evaluation of an objective system based on technical scientific criteria; 3) evaluation of the utility of LC in improving HRQoL through the GIQLI by analyzing expected and obtained utility through the change ratio, and 4) analysis of the correlation between the objective linear system, HRQoL and utility. RESULTS: The GIQLI was useful in evaluating the impact of the disease. LC significantly improved HRQoL in both oligosymptomatic and symptomatic patients. The objective or clinical factors did not allow perceptions of the process to be evaluated or the impact on HRQoL to be measured or inferred. A prioritization system based on GIQLI scores allows patients to be selected according to the expected utility (worsening of HRQoL) and obtained utility (improvement in HRQoL) of CL. CONCLUSIONS: Prioritization systems should include utility to guarantee equity. The GIQLI shows the impact of the disease on the patient while the clinical/objective factors are unrelated to the expectation of prioritization. Prioritization systems should include both elements to maintain the balance between impact and appropriate indication.

[Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A cohort study of 1,600 consecutive cases]. / Colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria. Estudio de cohortes de 1.600 casos consecutivos.

OBJECTIVE: A descriptive analysis of day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ALC) in a cohort of 1,600 consecutive patients performed in Instituto de Cirugía y Aparato Digestivo (ICAD), Clínica Quirón de Valencia in the period 1997-2010. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study of 1,601 consecutive patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) provided by the regional health service and private health companies. MAIN MEASURES: Conversion rate, non-planned admissions, readmissions, surgery duration and demographics. RESULTS: ALC was successfully performed in 80.8% of cases. LC with over-night (ON) stay accounted for 13.4% of patients. Admission was necessary in 4.6%. Mortality was 0.13%, 0.08 in ALC and 0.5% in ON LC. Readmissions occurred in 2.1%, 1.6% in ALC group, 5.4% in ON stay and 4.2% in admission group. CONCLUSIONS: ALC is a reliable and safe procedure. Minimization of admission rates is the key for cost-effective optimization in the management of cholelithiasis. ALC should be considered as the reference standard in gallbladder stone disease treatment.

Quantifying the extent of fistulotomy. How much sphincter can we safely divide? A three-dimensional endosonographic study.

PURPOSE: To quantify the longitudinal division of the internal anal sphincter (IAS) and external anal sphincter (EAS) after fistulotomy using three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-EAUS) and correlate the results with postoperative faecal incontinence. METHODS: A prospective, consecutive study was performed from December 2008 to October 2010. All patients underwent 3D-EAUS before and 8 weeks after surgery. Thirty-six patients with simple perianal fistula were included. Patients with an intersphincteric or low transphincteric fistula (<66% sphincter involved) without risk factors for incontinence underwent fistulotomy. The outcome measures were the longitudinal extent of division of the IAS and EAS in relation to total sphincter length and continence (Jorge and Wexner scores). RESULTS: One-year follow-up revealed a 0% recurrence rate. There was a strong correlation between preoperative 3D-EAUS measurement of fistula height with intraoperative and postoperative 3D-EAUS measurement of IAS and EAS division (p < 0.001). The relationship between the level of EAS division and faecal incontinence showed a significant difference in incontinence rates between fistulotomies limited to the lower two thirds of the EAS and those above this level. Five patients (13.9%) had worse anal continence after surgery, although this was mild in all patients (<3/20 Jorge and Wexner scale). There was no significant difference in continence scores before and after surgery (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients without risk factors, division of the EAS during fistulotomy limited to the lower two thirds of the EAS is associated with excellent continence and cure rates.

[Evaluation of three-dimensional endoanal endosonography of perianal fistulas and correlation with surgical findings]. / Evaluación de las fístulas perianales mediante ecografía endoanal tridimensional y correlación con los hallazgos intraoperatorios.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the accuracy of three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound (3D-US), two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) and physical examination (PE) for the diagnosis of perianal fistulas and correlate the results with intraoperative findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study with consecutive inclusion of patients was performed between December 2008 and August 2009. Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with a perianal fistula due to undergo surgery were included. All patients underwent PE, 2D-US and 3D-US, and the results were compared to intraoperative findings. The examinations were repeated with hydrogen peroxide instilled through the external opening. RESULTS: Internal opening (IO): no significant differences with regards to the number of IO diagnosed by PE and 2D-US or 3D-US (P>0.05). Primary tract: good concordance between 3D US and surgery (k=0.61), and this was higher than any of the other techniques used (PE: k=0.41; 2D-US: k=0.56). Secondary tracts: both 2D and 3D-US show good concordance with surgery (86%, k=0.66; 90%, k=0.73, respectively). Abscesses/cavities: The ultrasound examinations showed a moderate concordance with surgery (k=0.438, k=0.540, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: 3D-US shows a higher diagnostic accuracy than 2D-US when compared with surgery to estimate primary fistula height in transphincteric fistulas. 3D-US shows good concordance with surgery for diagnosing primary and secondary tracts and a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of the IO. There was a tendency to overestimate fistula height with 2D-US as shown by the lower specificity of 2D-US for the diagnosis of high transphincteric fistulas and lower sensitivity of 2D-US for low transphincteric fistulas.

[Intraoperative factors predictive of failure of the ambulatory regimen after laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Factores intraoperatorios predictivos del fracaso del régimen ambulatorio tras colecistectomía laparoscópica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which intraoperative factors during ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy predict postoperative admission. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1999 and August 2003, we attempted 410 consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Intraoperative variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. An intraoperative score was applied to determine the probability of successful ambulatory surgery in each patient. RESULTS: A total of 88.5% of the patients were strictly ambulatory. Forty-two patients required overnight admission, mostly due to social factors, and five patients required admission after 24-48 hours. Intraoperative variables predictive of postoperative admission were an operating time of more than 60 minutes (p = 0.011), gallbladder dissection with anatomic difficulty (p = 0.001), and cystic artery hemorrhage (p = 0.041). Surgical access to the abdominal cavity, gallbladder perforation, trocar wound or hepatic bed bleeding, intensity or grade of hemorrhage, and gallbladder extraction were not predictive variables. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective procedure. Operating time, correct dissection of gallbladder structures and hemorrhage of the gallbladder hilus, especially of the cystic artery, play a major role in the success or failure of ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy.