Long-term results of cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia: outcomes and resource utilization.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to describe a cohort of pediatric patients undergoing cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia (BD) and characterize postoperative resource utilization. METHODS: Single-institution, retrospective chart review of pediatric patients after cholecystectomy for BD was done. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics as well as operative details and postoperative interventions were abstracted. Telephone follow-up was performed to identify persistent symptoms, characterize the patient experience, and quantify postoperative resource utilization. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included. Twenty-two patients (45%) were seen postoperatively by a gastroenterologist, of which, only 32% were known to the gastroenterologist before surgery. Postoperative studies included 13 abdominal ultrasounds for persistent pain, 13 esophagogastroduodenoscopies, five endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs), one endoscopic ultrasound, one magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticogram, and five colonoscopies. Of the patients with additional diagnostic testing postoperatively, one had mild esophagitis, three had sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, and one was suspected to have inflammatory bowel disease. Telephone survey response rate was 47%. Among respondents, 65.2% reported ongoing abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting at an average of 26 mo after operation. Of note, all patients who underwent postoperative ERCP with sphincterotomy reported symptom relief following this procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Relief of symptoms postoperatively in pediatric patients with BD is inconsistent. Postoperative studies, though numerous, are of low diagnostic yield and generate high costs. These findings suggest that the initial diagnostic criteria and treatment algorithm may require revision to better predict symptom improvement after surgery. Improvement seen after ERCP/sphincterotomy is anecdotal but appears to merit further investigation.

Single-incision surgery has higher cost with equivalent pain and quality-of-life scores compared with multiple-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective randomized blinded comparison.

BACKGROUND: Since the development of single-incision surgery, several retrospective studies have demonstrated its feasibility; however, randomized prospective trials are still lacking. We report a prospective randomized single-blinded trial with a cost analysis of single-incision (SI) to multi-incision (MI) laparoscopic cholecystectomy. STUDY DESIGN: After obtaining IRB approval, patients with chronic cholecystitis, acute cholecystitis, or biliary dyskinesia were offered participation in this multihospital, multisurgeon trial. Consenting patients were computer randomized into either a transumbilical SI or standard MI group; patient data were then entered into a prospective database. RESULTS: We report 79 patients that were prospectively enrolled and analyzed. Total hospital charges were found to be significantly different between SI and MI groups (MI $15,717 ± $14,231 vs SI $17,817 ± $5,358; p < 0.0001). Broken down further, the following subcharges were found to also be significant: operating room charges (MI $4,445 ± $1,078 vs SI $5,358 ± 893; p < 0.0001); medical/surgical supplies (MI $3,312 ± $6,526 vs SI $5,102 ± $1,529; p < 0.0001); and anesthesia costs (MI $579 ± $7,616 vs SI $820 ± $23,957; p < 0.0001). A validated survey (ie, Surgical Outcomes Measurement System) was used to evaluate various patient quality-of-life parameters at set visits after surgery; scores were statistically equivalent for fatigue, physical function, and satisfaction with results. No difference was found between visual analogue scale scores or inpatient and outpatient pain-medication use. CONCLUSIONS: We show SI surgery to have higher costs than MI surgery with equivalent quality-of-life scores, pain analogue scores, and pain-medication use.