A practical new strategy to prevent bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A single-center experience with 5539 cases

Purpose Bile duct injury (BDI) is a catastrophic complication of cholecystectomy, and misidentification of the cystic anatomy is considered to be the main cause. Although several techniques have been developed to prevent BDI, such as the critical view of safety, the infundibular technique, the rates remain higher during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) than during open surgery. We, here, propose a practical new strategy for ductal identification, that can help to prevent laparoscopic bile duct injury. Methods A retrospective study of 5539 patients who underwent LC from March 2007 to February 2019 at a single institution was conducted. The gallbladder infundibulum was classified by its position located on an imaginary clock with the gallbladder neck as the center point of the dial, 3-oclock position as cranial, 6-oclock as dorsal, 9-oclock as caudal, and 12-oclock as ventral, as well as the axial position. Patient demographics, pathologic variables and infundibulum classification were evaluated. Detailed analysis of ductal identification based on gallbladder infundibulum position was performed in this study. All infundibulum positions were recorded by intraoperative laparoscopic video or photographic images. Results All the patients successfully underwent LC during the study period. No conversion or serious complications such as biliary injury occurred. Gallbladders with infundibulum of 3-oclock position, 6-oclock position, 9-oclock position, 12-oclock position, axial position were 12.3%, 23.4%, 28.0%, 4.2%, and 32.1%, respectively. The 3-oclock and 12-oclock position were pitfalls that might cause biliary injury. Conclusion The gallbladder infundibulum as a navigator is useful for ductal identification to reduce BDI and improve the safety of LC.(AU)

A practical new strategy to prevent bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A single-center experience with 5539 cases

Purpose; Bile duct injury (BDI) is a catastrophic complication of cholecystectomy, and misidentification of the cystic anatomy is considered to be the main cause. Although several techniques have been developed to prevent BDI, such as the “critical view of safety”, the infundibular technique, the rates remain higher during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) than during open surgery. We, here, propose a practical new strategy for ductal identification, that can help to prevent laparoscopic bile duct injury.; Methods; A retrospective study of 5539 patients who underwent LC from March 2007 to February 2019 at a single institution was conducted. The gallbladder infundibulum was classified by its position located on an imaginary clock with the gallbladder neck as the center point of the dial, 3-oclock position as cranial, 6-oclock as dorsal, 9-oclock as caudal, and 12-oclock as ventral, as well as the axial position. Patient demographics, pathologic variables and infundibulum classification were evaluated. Detailed analysis of ductal identification based on gallbladder infundibulum position was performed in this study. All infundibulum positions were recorded by intraoperative laparoscopic video or photographic images.; Results; All the patients successfully underwent LC during the study period. No conversion or serious complications such as biliary injury occurred. Gallbladders with infundibulum of 3-oclock position, 6-oclock position, 9-oclock position, 12-oclock position, axial position were 12.3%, 23.4%, 28.0%, 4.2%, and 32.1%, respectively. The 3-oclock and 12-oclock position were pitfalls that might cause biliary injury.; Conclusion; The gallbladder infundibulum as a navigator is useful for ductal identification to reduce BDI and improve the safety of LC.(AU)

Cardiorespiratory evaluation in pre and post operative moments of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To analyze the changes in both respiratory function and cardiopulmonary exercise tests results in patients subjected to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Fifty patients were evaluated (76% women) and the average age was 47.8±14.2 years. All individuals underwent the measurement of spirometry, manovacuometry, 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and stair-climbing test (SCT). All tests were performed at the first (PO1), fifth (PO5) and thirtieth (PO30) postoperative days. BMI average was 28.8±4.8 kg/m2. Sample comprised 68% non-smokers, 20% current smokers, and 12% former smokers. There was no incidence of postoperative complication whatsoever. There was a significant decrease in spirometric values at PO1, but values were similar to the ones of PRE at PO30. Manovacuometry showed alterations at PO1 displaying values that were similar to the ones of PRE at PO30. 6MWT was significantly shorter at until PO5, but at PO30 values were similar to ones of PRE. As for SCT, values were significantly compromised at PO5 and PO30 since they were similar to the ones of PRE. Patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy present a decrease in cardiorespiratory function on the first postoperative moments but there is a rapid return to preoperative conditions.(AU)

Intraoperative cholangiography during elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy: selective or routine use?

PURPOSE: To investigate clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic parameters in patients with and without preoperative criteria for intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in order to define predictive factors of choledocolithiasis. METHODS: As a criterion for inclusion in the study the patients should present chronic calculous cholecystitis in the presence or absence of any recent clinical, laboratory of ultrasonographic finding suggesting choledocolithiasis, who were therefore submitted to cholangiography during surgery. RESULTS: A total of 243 laparoscopic cholecystectomies with IOC were performed on patients with chronic calculous cholecystitis with or without a preoperative formal indication for contrast examination. Choledocolithiasis was detected in 33 (13.58%) of the 243 patients studied. The incidence of previously unsuspected choledocolithiasis was only one case (1.0%) among 100 patients without an indication for this exam. However, 32 (22.37%) cases of choledocolithiasis were observed among the 143 patients with a preoperative indication for IOC. CONCLUSION: The use of selective cholangiography is safe for the diagnosis of choledocolithiasis. Only 22.37% of the cholangiography results were positive in cases of suspected choledocolithiasis.(AU)

Needlescopic versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective study of 60 patients / Colecistectomia agulhascópica versus colecistectomia laparoscópica: um estudo prospectivo de 60 pacientes

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that needlescopic cholecystectomies (NC) offer superior outcomes in comparison to common laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LC). METHODS: Sixty consecutive patients with gallbladder disease undergoing either LC or NC were evaluated with respect to differences in operative time, frequency of per-operative incidents, post-operative pain, late postoperative symptoms, length of scars and level of postoperative satisfaction. RESULTS: Mean operative time was similar in both groups. Most of the patients, irrespective of the technique, informed mild postoperative pain. NC patients had lower levels of pain on the 7th postoperative day (PO7) (p<0.01) and decreased need for additional analgesia. Less frequency of epigastric wound pain was observed in NC patients until PO4 (p<0.01). Aesthetic result was far superior after NC (total length of scars less than half after LC). No differences regarding postoperative satisfaction with the operation were observed between the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques were safe and effective, presenting similar operative times and low levels of postoperative pain. Downsizing the ports to 2-3 mm was associated with significantly less frequency of postoperative pain only in the epigastric wound until PO4. Aesthetic outcome of NC was significantly superior to LC, although this advantage did not influence patient level of satisfaction.(AU)

OBJETIVO: Testar a hipótese de que colecistectomias agulhascópicas oferecem resultados superiores aos da colecistectomia laparoscópica usual (CL). MÉTODOS: Sessenta pacientes consecutivos com colecistopatia submetidos à CA ou CV foram avaliados quanto ao tempo operatório, freqüência de acidentes peroperatórios, dor pós-operatória, sintomas pós-operatórios tardios, comprimento das cicatrizes e grau de satisfação. RESULTADOS: O tempo operatório médio foi semelhante em ambos os grupos. A maioria dos pacientes, independentemente da técnica, relataram dor pós-operatória leve. Aqueles operados por CA tiveram menores níveis de dor no 7º dia de pós-operatório (PO7) (p<0.01) e menor necessidade de analgesia adicional. Menor freqüência de dor epigástrica foi observada no grupo CA até o PO4 (p<0.01). O resultado estético foi amplamente superior após CA (comprimento total das cicatrizes menor que a metade após CL). Não houve diferença quanto ao grau de satisfação entre os grupos. CONCLUSÕES: As duas técnicas foram seguras e eficazes, apresentando tempos operatórios semelhantes e baixos níveis de dor pós-operatória. A redução dos portais para 2-3 mm associou-se a menor freqüência de dor pós-operatória apenas na incisão epigástrica até o PO4. O resultado estético da agulhascopia foi significantemente superior ao da laparoscopia, apesar desta vantagem não ter influenciado o grau de satisfação dos doentes.(AU)