Measuring the impact of delayed access to elective cholecystectomy through patient's cost-utility: an observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Deferral of surgeries due to COVID-19 has negatively affected access to elective surgery and may have deleterious consequences for patient's health. Delays in access to elective surgery are not uniform in their impact on patients with different attributes. The objective of this study is to measure the change in patient's cost utility due to delayed elective cholecystectomy. METHODS: This study is based on retrospective analysis of a longitudinal sample of participants who have had elective cholecystectomy and completed the EQ-5D(3L) measuring health status preoperatively and postoperatively. Emergent cases were excluded. Patients younger than 19 years of age, unable to communicate in English or residing in a long-term care facility were ineligible. Quality-adjusted life years attributable to cholecystectomy were calculated by comparing health state utility values between the pre- and postoperative time points. The loss in quality-adjusted life years due to delayed access was calculated under four assumed scenarios regarding the length of the delay. The mean cost per quality-adjusted life years are shown for the overall sample and by sex and age categories. RESULTS: Among the 646 eligible patients, 30.1% of participants (N = 195) completed their preoperative and postoperative EQ-5D(3L). A delay of 12 months resulted in a mean loss of 6.4%, or 0.117, of the quality-adjusted life years expected without the delay. Among patients older than 70 years of age, a 12-month delay in their surgery corresponded with a 25.1% increase in the cost per quality-adjusted life years, from $10 758 to $13 463. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to focus on minimizing loss of quality of life for patients affected by delayed surgeries. Faced with equal delayed access to elective surgery, triage may need to prioritize older patients to maximize their health over their remaining life years.

Is Cholecystectomy Really Harmful? A Long-Term Quality of Life Study in Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an accepted option for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, it potentially carries the risk of donor morbi-mortality, as well as long-term functional impairment. Cholecystectomy is performed routinely in the donor intervention, but the long-term effect on gastrointestinal (GI)-related quality of life (QoL) has never been explored previously. This study evaluated living donors' overall, abdominal wall-related, activity-level, and GI-related QoL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 21 living liver donors (LLD) (57% women, mean age 45 ± 9 years) were compared to a control group (29 patients) undergoing cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps (45% women, mean age of 46 ± 7 years). LLD and controls (Ctl) were divided into 2 age groups: LLD-Y and Ctl-Y (25-45 years); and LLD-O and Ctl-O (46-65 years). Generic SF-36, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, EuraHS for abdominal wall status assessment, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were performed. Standard age-adjusted Portuguese population SF-36 scores were used. RESULTS: Global QoL results were better than Portuguese population scores and not inferior when compared to controls, scoring higher in the LLD-Y group in domains as vitality and mental health (P < .05). The abdominal wall impact was minimal among LLD. The activity level was significantly higher in LLD-Y than in Ctl-Y. Overall GI-related QoL was very close to the maximum score, and GI symptoms were significantly less in LLD-O compared with Ctl-O. CONCLUSION: LDLT had no impact on donors' general, abdominal wall-related QoL or activity level. The performance of cholecystectomy apparently had no impact on the development of GI-related symptoms.

Effects of showing the operating room on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamics among patients with hypertension: A randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Anxiety is one of the most important causes of hypertension, increasing direct blood pressure and affecting postoperative morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of showing the operating room on preoperative anxiety and hemodynamics among patients with hypertension. METHODS: We enrolled 90 patients with hypertension undergoing cholecystectomy in this trial. Patients were randomly divided into two groups using a sealed-envelope system. Group STOR was shown the operating room the day before surgery, while Group No STOR was not shown the operating room. RESULTS: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scores measured on the day of surgery were lower for Group STOR (43.2 ± 6.0) than Group No STOR (49.8 ± 7.9) (p = .001). Systolic (p = .001, p = .006, respectively), diastolic (p = .001, p = .004, respectively), and heart rate (p = .018, p = .031, respectively) values in the operation room and preoperative unit were lower in Group STOR than in Group No STOR. The number of postponed operations in Group STOR was lower than in Group No STOR (p = .043), and the patient satisfaction score in Group STOR was higher than in Group No STOR (p = .031). CONCLUSION: In patients with hypertension, preoperative anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate all increase in the preoperative unit and operation room. Our findings indicate that showing the operating room to patients with hypertension decreases preoperative anxiety, as well as blood pressure and heart rate inside the operating room and preoperative unit. It also reduces the number of postponed operations and increases patient satisfaction.

Survey of the attitudes of hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons in northern Europe to resection of choledochal cysts in asymptomatic Western adults.

Background: Todani type 1 and 4 choledochal cysts are associated with a risk of developing cholangiocarcinoma. Resection is usually recommended, but data for asymptomatic Western adults are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate diagnostic interpretation and attitudes towards resection of bile ducts for choledochal cysts in this subgroup of patients across northern European centres. Methods: Thirty hepatopancreatobiliary centres were provided with magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatograms and asked to discuss the management of six cases: asymptomatic non-Asian women, aged 30 or 60 years, with variable common bile duct (CBD) dilatations and different risk factors in the setting of a multidisciplinary team (MDT). The Fleiss κ value was calculated to estimate overall inter-rater agreement. Results: For all case scenarios combined, 83·3 and 86·7 per cent recommended resection for a CBD of 20 and 26 mm respectively, compared with 19·4 per cent for a CBD of 13 mm (P < 0·001). For patients aged 30 and 60 years, resection was recommended in 68·5 and 57·8 per cent respectively (P = 0·010). There was a trend towards recommending resection in the presence of a common channel, most pronounced in the 60-year-old patient. High amylase levels in the CBD aspirate led to recommendations to resect, but only for the 13-mm CBD dilatation. There were no differences related to centre size or region. MDT discussion was associated with recommendations to resect. Inter-rater agreement was 73·3 per cent (κ = 0·43, 95 per cent c.i. 0·38 to 0·48). Conclusion: The inter-rater agreement to resect was intermediate, and the recommendation was dependent mainly on the diameter of the CBD dilatation.

Antecedentes: Los quistes de colédoco (choledochal cysts, CC) tipo 1 y tipo 4 de Todani se asocian con un riesgo de desarrollar colangiocarcinoma. Generalmente se recomienda la resección de los mismos, pero los datos para pacientes adultos occidentales son escasos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar la interpretación diagnóstica y actitudes respecto a la resección de las vías biliares por CC en este subgrupo de pacientes atendidos en centros del norte de Europa. Métodos: Se proporcionaron imágenes de colangiopancreatografía por resonancia magnética (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRCP) a un total de 30 centros especializados en patología hepatobiliar y se les solicitó que discutieran el tratamiento de seis casos: pacientes del sexo femenino no asiáticas asintomáticas, de edad entre 30 y 60 años con dilataciones variables del colédoco (common bile duct, CBD) y con diferentes factores de riesgo en el marco de un equipo multidisciplinario (multidisciplinary team, MDT). Se calculó el índice kappa de Fleiss para estimar el acuerdo global entre los evaluadores. Resultados: Para todos los escenarios de casos combinados, un 83,3% y un 86,7% recomendaron la resección para un CBD de 20 y 26 mm, respectivamente, en comparación con un 19,4% para un CBD de 13 mm (P < 0,001). En el caso de un paciente de 30 y de 60 años, la resección se recomendó en el 68,5% y 57,8%, respectivamente (P = 0,010). Se observaron tendencias hacia recomendar la resección en presencia de un canal pancreático­biliar común, más pronunciado en el paciente de 60 años. Los niveles elevados de amilasa en el aspirado del CBD condujeron a la recomendación de resecar, pero solo en la dilatación del CBD de 13 mm. No hubo diferencias relacionadas con el tamaño del centro o la región. La discusión en el MDT se asoció con recomendaciones para la resección. El acuerdo entre evaluadores fue 73,3% con un índice kappa de 0,43 (i.c. del 95% 0,38­0,48). Conclusión: El acuerdo entre evaluadores para indicar la resección fue intermedio y la recomendación dependió principalmente del diámetro de la dilatación del CBD.

Effects of Preoperative Anxiety on Intraoperative Hemodynamics and Postoperative Pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of the level of the anxiety of the patients on the intraoperative hemodynamic parameters and postoperative pain, patient satisfaction and the stay period at the hospital. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey, from December 2015 to February 2016. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-two patients were operated for elective cholecystectomy. They were asked to answer state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) questionnaire. The patients were classified into two groups as high and low anxiety levels. The targeted variables were compared. RESULTS: There has not been found any significant relationship between the level of anxiety and age, gender, marial status, level of education, profession, general anesthesia, comobidity and postoperative shivering. However, patients with high preoperative anxiety scores had unstable hemodynamic parameters (arterial pressure, heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation) intraoperatively, increased postoperative pain and analgesic consumption with dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: Preoperative anxiety might cause hemodynamic problems in the intraoperative period, increased analgesic need and lower postoperative satisfaction of the patients in the postoperative period. It would be better to dispel the preoperative anxiety by conselling patient regar anesthesia, surgeon, and the institute.

RAND-36-Item Health Survey: A Comprehensive Test for Long-term Outcome and Health Status Following Surgery.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the 3-year health status of cholecystectomy patients by the RAND-36 Survey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Initially, 110 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease were randomized to undergo either minicholecystectomy (MC) (n=58) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (n=52). RAND-36 survey was performed preoperatively, 4 weeks, 6 months and 3 years following surgery. RESULTS: RAND-36 scores improved in several RAND-36 domains in MC and LC groups with a similar postoperative course over the 3-year study period. In addition, at the 3-year follow-up telephone interview, no significant differences in patient-reported outcome measures between MC and LC patients were shown. The linear mixed effect model was used to test the overall significance of the RAND-36 survey during a 36-month follow-up period and the overall p-values were statistically significant in vitality, mental health (0.03), role physical and bodily pain domains. CONCLUSION: During the three years following cholecystectomy, four RAND-36 domains remained significantly higher, indicating a significant positive change in quality of life. RAND-36-Item Health Survey is a comprehensive test for analyzing long-term outcome and health status after cholecystectomy.

Surgical Consultation as Social Process: Implications for Shared Decision Making.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study examines surgical consultation as a social process and assesses its alignment with assumptions of the shared decision-making (SDM) model. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: SDM stresses the importance of patient preferences and rigorous discussion of therapeutic risks/benefits based on these preferences. However, empirical studies have highlighted discrepancies between SDM and realities of surgical decision making. Qualitative research can inform understanding of the decision-making process and allow for granular assessment of the nature and causes of these discrepancies. METHODS: We observed consultations between 3 general surgeons and 45 patients considering undergoing 1 of 2 preference-sensitive elective operations: (1) hernia repair, or (2) cholecystectomy. These patients and surgeons also participated in semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: By the time of the consultation, patients and surgeons were predisposed toward certain decisions by preceding events occurring elsewhere. During the visit, surgeons had differential ability to arbitrate surgical intervention and construct the severity of patients' conditions. These upstream dynamics frequently displaced the centrality of the risk/benefit-based consent discussion. CONCLUSION: The influence of events preceding consultation suggests that decision-making models should account for broader spatiotemporal spans. Given surgeons' authority to define patients' conditions and control service provision, SDM may be premised on an overestimation of patients' power to alter the course of decision making once in a specialist's office. Considering the subordinate role of the risk/benefit discussion in many surgical decisions, it will be important to study if and how the social process of decision making is altered by SDM-oriented decision aids that foreground this discussion.

The Effect of Surgical Stress on Postoperative Tαß and Tγδ Cell Distribution.

BACKGROUND: It was previously shown that appropriate distribution of immune cells between different tissues and organs of the body is required for proper function of the immune system. Our previous experiments demonstrated that surgical trauma in mice induces Tγδ lymphocyte migration from peripheral blood to peritoneal lymphoid organs. Tγδ cells have regulatory activity as they suppress the cell-mediated immune response in vitro via TGF-ß. In the current study, we aim to evaluate the influence of surgery on both Taß and Tγδ lymphocyte distribution in patients that underwent operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the percentage of Tαß and Tγδ cells in peripheral blood of patients undergoing standard surgical procedures (gastric resection, colorectal resection, cholecystectomy, and strumectomy) before and 3 days after operation. The percentage of Tαß and Tγδ cells was evaluated by FACS Canto II cytofluorimeter. RESULTS: We showed that only major surgery located in the peritoneal cavity (gastric and colorectal surgery) decreases the percentage of Tγδ cells in peripheral blood as opposed to less traumatic surgery (strumectomy and cholecystectomy) which does not have such effect. However, significant reduction of Tγδ cells after operation was only observed in a group of patients that underwent gastrectomy. Additionally, we found that gastrectomy results in significant reduction of cumulative Tγδ CD4 and Tγδ CD25 lymphocyte counts. CONCLUSION: Surgery results in decreased percentage of Tγδ lymphocytes in peripheral human blood, and this correlates with the severity and location of the surgical trauma. This observation may help to predict postoperative recovery after gastroabdominal surgery.

The influence of perceived family support on post surgery recovery.

The objective of this work was to investigate the possible relationship between perceived family support, levels of cortisol and post surgery recovery. The study sample comprised 42 patients that were due to undergo open cholecystectomy surgery in a Regional Health Authority Reference Centre of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura in Spain. The FACES-II questionnaire was used for the evaluation of perceived family support and to measure the three fundamental dimensions of perceived family behaviour: cohesion, adaptability and family type. The day before surgery, a sample of saliva was taken from each subject in order to determine the level of cortisol. Results showed a clear relationship between family support and recovery. Patients with higher scores on the Cohesion Scale demonstrated better post surgery recovery (F = 8.8; gl = 40; p = .005). A relationship between levels of cortisol, perceived family support and recovery was also revealed. Patients with lower scores on the Cohesion scale and higher cortisol levels demonstrated poorer post surgery recovery (F = 10.96; gl = 40; p = .006). These results are coherent with other studies that have highlighted the beneficial effects of perceived family support on mental and physical health.

Depression After Spinal Surgery: A Comparative Analysis of the California Outcomes Database.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative incidence of newly recorded diagnosis of depression after spinal surgery as a proxy for the risk of post-spinal surgery depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the longitudinal California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database (January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2010) to identify patients who underwent spinal surgery during these years. Patients with documented depression before surgery were excluded. Risk of new postoperative depression was determined via the incidence of newly recorded depression on any hospitalization subsequent to surgery. For comparison, this risk was also determined for patients hospitalized during the same time period for coronary artery bypass grafting, hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure exacerbation, or uncomplicated vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Our review identified 1,078,639 patients. Relative to the uncomplicated vaginal delivery cohort, the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for newly recorded depression within 5 years after the admission of interest were 5.05 for spinal surgery (95% CI, 4.79-5.33), 2.33 for coronary artery bypass grafting (95% CI, 2.15-2.54), 3.04 for hysterectomy (95% CI, 2.88-3.21), 2.51 for cholecystectomy (95% CI, 2.35-2.69), 2.44 for congestive heart failure exacerbation (95% CI, 2.28-2.61), and 3.04 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (95% CI, 2.83-3.26). Among patients who underwent spinal surgery, this risk of postoperative depression was highest for patients who underwent fusion surgery (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.22-1.36) or had undergone multiple spinal operations (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.16-1.29) during the analyzed period. CONCLUSION: Patients who undergo spinal surgery have a higher risk for postoperative depression than patients treated for other surgical or medical conditions known to be associated with depression.

Calidad de vida post-reconstrucción de vía biliar / Quality of life after bile duct damage and repair during cholecystectomy

Background: Bile duct reconstruction after surgical lesions during cholecystectomy is a complex procedure with impact on postoperative quality of life. Aim: To compare the quality of life of patients who suffered a bile duct lesion during cholecystectomy with their counterparts in whom bile duct was not damaged. Material and Methods: The SF-36 questionnaire for quality of life was applied to 20 patients aged 44 +/- 16 years (79 percent women), who required a bile duct reconstruction due to lesions during cholecystectomy and to 20 age and gender matched patients subjected to uneventful cholecystectomies. Results: The SF-36 scores obtained for patients subjected to bile duct reconstruction and those with uneventful cholecystectomies were 78.5 +/- 21.5 and 74.1 +/- 16.7 (p = 0.46) respectively for physical function, 75 +/- 22 and 72.5 +/- 28 (p = 0.75) respectively for physical role, 79.6 +/- 23.3 and 66.6 +/- 28.6 respectively (p = 0.12) for emotional role, 60.8 +/- 25.4 and 50.3 +/- 17.4 respectively (p = 0.13) for vitality, 69.2 +/- 22.4 and 56.8 +/- 18.7 respectively (p = 0.06) for mental health, 84.3 +/- 19 and 64.1 +/- 22.1 respectively (p < 0.01) for social role, 74.1 +/- 25.1 and 71.8 +/- 24.7 respectively (p = 0,76) for pain and 57 +/- 24.4 and 56.8 +/- 24,4 respectively (p = 0.97) for general health. Conclusions: No differences in quality of life were observed between patients subjected to bile duct reconstruction and those who experienced uneventful cholecystectomies.

Introducción: La reconstrucción de vía biliar (RVB) secundaria a lesión de vía biliar asociada a cole-cistectomía (LVBAC) es una cirugía compleja y un aspecto importante es la calidad de vida (CV) posterior. El objetivo del presente trabajo es comparar la calidad de vida de una cohorte de pacientes sometidos a RVB por LVBAC con una cohorte de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía sin incidentes. Material y método: Estudio de calidad de vida realizado en una cohorte concurrente a conveniencia. La cohorte está compuesta por 20 pacientes sometidos a RVB por LVBAC. Para tener un grupo de comparación se eligió una cohorte de pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía sin incidentes. Estas cohortes se parearon 1:1 por edad (+/- 4 años), género y tipo de cirugía. Se aplicó el cuestionario SF-36 con la puntuación propuesta por el grupo RAND de manera personal o telefónica. Se utilizó t-test para la comparación de los promedios de la puntuación. Por ser una cohorte a conveniencia se hizo cálculo de potencia del estudio, que fue del 99 por ciento. Resultados: La cohorte de pacientes de RVB está conformada por 20 pacientes, con una edad promedio de 44 +/- 15,51 años; siendo el 79 por ciento de género femenino. El promedio de seguimiento fue de 68 +/- 44 meses. La puntuación obtenida por los pacientes sometidos a RVB y colecistectomía fue: función física: 78,5 +/- 21,46 vs 74,05 ± 16,69 (p = 0,46); rol físico: 75 +/- 22 vs 72,5 +/- 27,98 (p = 0,75); rol emocional: 79,58 +/- 23,33 vs 66,6 +/- 28,61 (p = 0,12); vitalidad: 60,75 +/- 25,35 vs 50,25 +/- 17,38 (p = 0,13); salud mental: 69,2 +/- 22,36 vs 56,8 +/- 18,65 (p = 0,06); rol social: 84,31+/- 18,98 vs 64,12 +/- 22,11 (p = 0,003); dolor: 74,12 +/- 25,09 vs 71,75 +/- 24,69 (p = 0,76); salud general: 57 +/- 24,35 vs 56,75 +/- 24,40 (p = 0,97). A manera de descripción se hizo una comparación de subgrupos según técnica de Hepp-Couinaud, tiempo de RVB y necesidad de procedimientos percutáneos después de RVB. Conclusión: En el...

Patients' experiences with cholecystitis and a cholecystectomy.

Nurses commonly care for patients with cholecystitis, a major health problem with a growing prevalence. Although considerable research has been done to compare patient outcomes among surgical approaches for cholecystitis, few studies have examined the experiences of patients with cholecystitis and the subsequent cholecystectomy surgery. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach was initiated to better understand the experience of hospitalized patients with cholecystitis through their cholecystectomy surgery. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were conducted with patients diagnosed with cholecystitis and scheduled for a cholecystectomy at a rural, Midwestern hospital in the United States. Postoperative interviews were then conducted with the patients who experienced an uneventful cholecystectomy. Giorgi's technique was used to analyze postoperative narratives of the patients' cholecystectomy experiences to determine the themes. Following analysis of interview transcripts from the patients, 5 themes emerged: (a) consumed by discomfort and pain, (b) restless discomfort interrupting sleep, (c) living in uncertainty, (d) impatience to return to normalcy, and (e) feelings of vulnerability. Informants with acute cholecystitis described distressing pain before and after surgery that interfered with sleep and family responsibilities. Increased awareness is needed to prevent the disruption to daily life that can result from the cholecystitis and resulting cholecystectomy surgery. Also, nurses can help ease the unpredictability of the experience by providing relevant patient education, prompt pain relief, and an attentive approach to the nursing care.

Sexual function after transvaginal cholecystectomy: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Despite several benefits, patients are concerned that transvaginal cholecystectomy has a negative impact on sexual health. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the impact of transvaginal cholecystectomy on postoperative dyspareunia and sexual function. METHOD: A literature search was performed in the PubMed and EMBASE databases. Papers reporting on postoperative dyspareunia, vaginal pain or discomfort, and sexual function were included. RESULTS: Seventeen papers reported on dyspareunia and vaginal pain or discomfort. Two papers reported a rate of de novo dyspareunia of 3.8% and 12.5%, respectively. One study reported a nonsignificant reduction in painful sexual intercourse and the remaining 14 reported no incidents of dyspareunia. Eight papers reported on sexual function. One paper using a nonvalidated questionnaire found impaired sexual function. The papers that used validated questionnaires found no impairment of sexual function. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of sexual dysfunction and dyspareunia after transvaginal cholecystectomy seems minimal. Well-designed studies using validated questionnaires are necessary to fully assess these types of complications.

[Quality of life and visceral surgery]. / Lebensqualität nach viszeralchirurgischen Operationen.

Quality of life (QOL) is becoming more and more relevant in clinical research. An increasing number of publications each year confirmed this. The aim of this review is to summarize current data of QOL after surgical procedures. The results are represented by two examples each of malignant and benign diseases. The evaluation of QOL for patients with cancer is only possible with respect to the prognosis. Prospective randomized trials comparing laparoscopic and open surgery for early gastric cancer are only available from Asia. Data from the USA show that the QOL after gastrectomy was worse regardless of the surgical procedure. During the next 6 months the QOL improved but about one third of the patients had severe impairment during longer follow-up periods. Patients with R1 resection of pancreatic cancer showed only a slightly better prognosis but significantly better QOL compared to patients without resection. The results for the various procedures of cholecystectomy or hernia repair are not always consistent.

Evaluation of sexual function in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal NOTES: a prospective cohort study of 106 patients.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this prospective cohort study was to investigate sexual function, quality of life and patient satisfaction in sexually active women 1 year after transvaginal hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective single-centre cohort study included sexually active female patients after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection. Sexual life impairment and quality of life were assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) prior and 1 year after surgery. Patient satisfaction was assessed as well as the sexual function 1 year postoperatively using the validated German version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-D). RESULTS: Between September 2008 and December 2009, 106 sexually active women after transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy or anterior resection were identified. Sexual life significantly improved (GIQLI scores 3.2 ± 1.0 preoperatively vs. 3.7 ± 0.7 1 year postoperatively, P < 0.001), and painful sexual intercourse (3.3 ± 1.0 vs. 3.6 ± 0.7, P = 0.008) decreased post-surgery. The mean FSFI-D total score after transvaginal NOTES was 28.1 ± 4.6, exceeding the cutoff for sexual dysfunction defined as 26. Four (4.5 %) out of 88 patients who answered this question were not satisfied with the transvaginal hybrid NOTES procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study of female sexual function after transvaginal NOTES provides compelling evidence that the transvaginal access is safe and associated with high satisfaction rate.

Informed consent for inguinal herniorrhaphy and cholecystectomy: describing how patients make decisions to have surgery.

BACKGROUND: We describe how patients perceive the process of informed consent and its influence on decision making for elective surgery. METHODS: A cohort of 38 patients documented consent for cholecystectomy or inguinal herniorrhaphy using the Veterans Affair's computer-based tool for documenting informed consent for clinical treatment. Participants completed semistructured telephone interviews exploring their attitudes about informed consent, iMed, and the decision-making process. We used qualitative methods to code and analyze the data. RESULTS: Sixty-nine percent of patients decided to have surgery before meeting their surgeon, and 47% stated that the surgeon did not influence their decision. Although the surgeon was an important source of information for most patients (81%), patients frequently described using information gathered before meeting the surgeon, such as other health care providers (81%) or family members (58%). Most (68%) patients perceived iMed as a legal formality with little influence on decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should examine whether patient decision making regarding elective surgery becomes better informed if nonsurgeon clinicians connect patients to educational resources such as iMed closer to the time of initial diagnosis and before meeting the surgeon.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of women's perceptions of transvaginal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Prior surveys evaluating women's perceptions of transvaginal surgery both support and refute the acceptability of transvaginal access. Most surveys employed mainly quantitative analysis, limiting the insight into the women's perspective. In this mixed-methods study, we include qualitative and quantitative methodology to assess women's perceptions of transvaginal procedures. METHODS: Women seen at the outpatient clinics of a tertiary-care center were asked to complete a survey. Demographics and preferences for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and tubal ligation were elicited, along with open-ended questions about concerns or benefits of transvaginal access. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to examine the impact of age, education, parity, and prior transvaginal procedures on preferences. For the qualitative evaluation, content analysis by independent investigators identified themes, issues, and concerns raised in the comments. RESULTS: The completed survey tool was returned by 409 women (grouped mean age 53 years, mean number of 2 children, 82% ≥ some college education, and 56% with previous transvaginal procedure). The transvaginal approach was acceptable for tubal ligation to 59%, for appendectomy to 43%, and for cholecystectomy to 41% of the women. The most frequently mentioned factors that would make women prefer a vaginal approach were decreased invasiveness (14.4%), recovery time (13.9%), scarring (13.7%), pain (6%), and surgical entry location relative to organ removed (4.4%). The most frequently mentioned concerns about the vaginal approach were the possibility of complications/safety (14.7%), pain (9%), infection (5.6%), and recovery time (4.9%). A number of women voiced technical concerns about the vaginal approach. CONCLUSIONS: As in prior studies, scarring and pain were important issues to be considered, but recovery time and increased invasiveness were also in the "top five" list. The surveyed women appeared to actively participate in evaluating the technical components of the procedures.

Impact of menthal representation of disease and wound-related subjective perception of disease on convalescence after surgical treatment.

UNLABELLED: Compared to open surgery, laparoscopic treatment has been shown to have several advantages, including lower levels of postoperative pain, faster recovery, and better cosmetic results. Nevertheless, the advantages of laparoscopy are being debated as possibly not being merely related to biomedical factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study consisted of two sub-studies. In the first study, 150 healthy, previously unoperated volunteers, not employed in the health services, were included. Healthy volunteers, from the latter study, were given questionnaires that presented different sizes of post-operative wounds and examined their perception of the severity of the illnesses that were treated by surgery leading to these wounds. In the second study, data was collected from 65 laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients and 35 patients treated by the open approach cholecystectomy. Patients from the second study were examined prior to operation and 1 month after surgery with a questionnaire evaluating their subjective perception of the disease. RESULTS: Subjective perception of the severity of disease (SPSD) was similar between the laparoscopy and the open approach cholecystectomy patients before the operation (respectively, 6.25±1.7 and 6.06±2.2; ns). At the follow-up, a significant decrease of SPSD among laparoscopy patients was observed (post-op score = 3.28±0.8, p<0.05 in paired t-Student test), but not in the open approach patients (6.42±1.7, ns in paired t-Student test). The volunteers perceived that the disease of the laparoscopically treated patients was less serious than the disease of those treated with open surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The authors would like to emphasize that the study presents a new approach to the explanation of the so called "laparoscopy phenomenon", i.e. much faster and smoother recovery after relatively larger and more serious surgical procedures. We believe that the benefits observed among the videoscopy patients might be, apart from immunological and pain-related factors, attributed to the psychological influence of cognitive representations of the disease severity on pain, analgetics use, and recovery.

[Perception of natural orifice surgery. Results of a survey of female physicians and nursing staff]. / Perzeption der "natural orifice surgery". Ergebnisse einer Umfrage bei weiblichem Ärzte- und Pflegepersonal.

BACKGROUND: Natural orifice surgery (NOS) is now being elaborated with the aim to make abdominal surgery simpler and safer. In order to obtain women's perception of NOS and their willingness to consent to this type of approach a survey was conducted among female employees from surgical disciplines at the University Hospital Charité Berlin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A written description and information on minimally invasive surgery and the NOS concept were distributed among 500 female physicians and nursing staff along with a 14-item questionnaire. Of the staff members 118 participants completed the questionnaire anonymously. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: With regard to ovarectomy 55% of women surveyed indicated that they would prefer a transvaginal approach to standard laparoscopy (44%) or a transgastric approach (1%). When asked about preferred access for cholecystectomy only 31% would prefer the transvaginal method compared to 61% for the laparoscopic technique. Objections against the transvaginal access concerned the impact on a healthy sexual life and effects on fertility. Reasons for choosing NOS were no wound pain and no scar. CONCLUSION: This survey shows that among the surveyed female medical employees the transvaginal approach is associated with concerns and fears but these are not justifiable, as the transvaginal access has been used for more than 100 years for gynecological purposes. There is a strong need for outcome data to enlighten female patients and to help guide physicians when talking to patients regarding NOS and the transvaginal approach.

Trait anxiety predicts unsuccessful surgery in gallstone disease.

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of negative symptomatic outcomes at 6 months after cholecystectomy, surgical removal of the gallbladder, which is the preferred treatment for gallstone disease. After cholecystectomy, a substantial number of patients report persistence of symptoms. METHODS: In this prospective follow-up study, consecutive patients (n = 172) diagnosed with symptomatic gallstone disease and indicated for elective cholecystectomy were investigated. Preoperatively and at 6 months, patients completed self-report symptom checklists. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale was completed preoperatively and patients with a score of > or = P 80 were considered having High Trait Anxiety (HTA). Multivariate regression analyses were used to investigate independent predictors of persisting symptoms. RESULTS: Six months after cholecystectomy, patients with HTA were more likely to report persisting biliary symptoms than patients without HTA (NHTA) (45.5% versus 14.3%; chi(2) = 8.78, p = .002). HTA was identified as an independent predictor of persisting biliary symptoms at 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 3.08, p = .047; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-9.34), in addition to the report of nonspecific symptoms (OR, 6.16, p = .024; 95% CI, 1.27-29.82), and the use of psychotropic medication (OR, 4.76, p = .023; 95% CI, 1.24-18.34). CONCLUSION: Patients with HTA have a three times higher risk at persisting biliary symptoms at 6 months after cholecystectomy than NHTA patients. Both clinical factors and the patient's personality should be considered in clinical decision making and risk estimation in elective cholecystectomy.