Sonographic Assessment of Acute Versus Chronic Cholecystitis: An Ultrasound Probability Stratification Model.

OBJECTIVES: What sonographic variables are most predictive for acute cholecystitis? What variables differentiate acute and chronic cholecystitis? METHODS: The surgical pathology database was reviewed to identify adult patients who underwent cholecystectomy for cholecystitis and had a preceding ultrasound of the right upper quadrant within 7 days. A total of 236 patients were included in the study. A comprehensive imaging review was performed to assess for gallstones, gallbladder wall thickening, gallbladder distension, pericholecystic fluid, gallstone mobility, the sonographic Murphy's sign, mural hyperemia, and the common hepatic artery peak systolic velocity. RESULTS: Of 236 patients with a cholecystectomy, 119 had acute cholecystitis and 117 had chronic cholecystitis on surgical pathology. Statistical models were created for prediction. The simple model consists of three sonographic variables and has a sensitivity of 60% and specificity of 83% in predicting acute versus chronic cholecystitis. The most predictive variables for acute cholecystitis were elevated common hepatic artery peak systolic velocity, gallbladder distension, and gallbladder mural abnormalities. If a patient had all three of these findings on their preoperative ultrasound, the patient had a 96% chance of having acute cholecystitis. Two of these variables gave a 73-93% chance of having acute cholecystitis. One of the three variables gave a 40-76% chance of having acute cholecystitis. If the patient had 0 of 3 of the predictor variables, there was a 29% chance of having acute cholecystitis. CONCLUSIONS: Gallbladder distension, gallbladder mural abnormalities, and elevated common hepatic artery peak systolic velocity are the most important sonographic variables in predicting acute versus chronic cholecystitis.

Incidence and management of cystic duct perforation during endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evidence regarding the incidence and clinical outcome of cystic duct perforation (CDP) during endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage (ETGBD) is inadequate. The present study aimed to evaluate the incidence and management of CDP during ETGBD. METHODS: Between March 2011 and December 2019, 249 patients underwent initial ETGBD for acute cholecystitis. The incidence of CDP was retrospectively examined and the outcomes between the CDP and non-CDP groups were compared. RESULTS: CDP during ETGBD occurred in 23 (9.2%) of 249 patients (caused by guidewire in 15 and cannula in 8). ETGBD was successful in 10 patients following CDP. In 13 patients who failed ETGBD, 11 underwent bile duct drainage during the same session; nine patients underwent gallbladder decompression by other methods, such as percutaneous drainage. Clinical resolution for acute cholecystitis was achieved in 20 patients, and no bile peritonitis was noted. ETGBD technical success rates (45.3% vs. 91.2%, p < 0.001), ETGBD procedure times (66.5 vs. 54.8 min, p = 0.041), and hospitalization periods (24.5 vs. 18.7 days, p = 0.028) were significantly inferior in the CDP group (n = 23) compared with the non-CDP group (n = 216). There were no differences in clinical success and adverse events other than CDP between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic duct perforation reduced the ETGBD technical success rate. However, even in patients with cystic duct perforation, an improvement of acute cholecystitis was achieved by subsequent successful ETGBD or additional procedures, such as percutaneous drainage.

Endoscopic Transpapillary Gallbladder Drainage for Acute Cholecystitis.

The mainstay of management of acute cholecystitis has been surgical, with percutaneous gallbladder drainage in patients deemed high risk for surgical intervention. Endoscopic management of acute cholecytitis with transpapillary and transmural drainage of the gall bladder is emerging as a viable alternative in high-risk surgical patients. In this article, we discuss the background, current status, technical challenges and strategies to overcome them, adverse events, and outcomes of endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage for management of acute cholecystitis.

Acute cholecystitis: predictive clinico-radiological assessment for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies evaluating predictive factors for the conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy have reported conflicting conclusions. PURPOSE: To create a risk assessment model to predict the conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy in patients with acute calculous cholecystitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with acute calculous cholecystitis with available preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) findings who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Forty-four parameters-including demographics, clinical history, laboratory data, and CT findings-were analyzed. RESULTS: Among the included 581 patients, conversion occurred in 113 (19%) cases. Multivariate analysis identified obesity (odd ratio [OR] 2.58, P = 0.04), history of abdominal surgery (OR 1.78, P = 0.03), and prolonged prothrombin time (OR 1.98, P = 0.03) as predictors of conversion. In preoperative CT findings, the absence of gallbladder wall enhancement (OR 3.15, P = 0.03), presence of a gallstone in the gallbladder infundibulum (OR 2.11, P = 0.04), and inflammation of the hepatic pedicle (OR 1.71, P = 0.04) were associated with conversion. Inter-observer agreement for CT study interpretation was very good (range 0.81-1.00). A model was created to calculate the risk for conversion, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.87. The risk for conversion, estimated based on the number of factors identified, was in the range of 5.3% (with one factor) to 86.4% (with six factors). CONCLUSION: Obesity, history of abdominal surgery, prolonged prothrombin time, absence of gallbladder wall enhancement, presence of a gallstone in the gallbladder infundibulum, and inflammation of the hepatic pedicle are associated with conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.

Clinical implications of hepatobiliary scintigraphy and ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis.

BACKGROUND: We assess the performance of ultrasound (US) and hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HIDA) as confirmatory studies in acute cholecystitis (AC) and demonstrate our current imaging protocol's impact on outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Between January 2013 to July 2014, 117 patients were admitted through the emergency room with a preliminary diagnosis of AC. Overall, 106/117 (91%) of the patients received US preadmission and 34/117 (29%) received a HIDA post admission. Primary end points included: 1) diagnostic test reliability for AC, and 2) outcome and quality measures (time to surgery, LOS, costs, etc.). RESULTS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 96/117 (82%) and open cholecystectomy in 21/117 (18%) of the patients. Overall, histopathologic features consistent with AC was present in 46/117 (39%). AC alone was present in 23/117 (20%), and AC superimposed on chronic cholecystitis was present in 23/117 (20%). For AC, US had a sensitivity and specificity of 26% and 80%, respectively. HIDA scan had a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 79%, respectively. Time to surgery (TTS) was 4 vs 2.3 days in patients who received HIDA vs US alone (p = 0.001), and length of stay (LOS) was 6.7 vs 4.3 days, respectively (p = 0.001). Age >50 years, glucose >140 (mg/dl), and WBC count >10 (×109 /L) were statistically significant independent variables associated with AC. CONCLUSION: HIDA scan is superior to US as a diagnostic study in the setting of AC. Our current protocol of delayed HIDA (post-admission) was associated with increased TTS, LOS, and overall costs. Early confirmation with HIDA in high risk patients may hasten treatment allocation and improve outcomes in the setting of AC.

Ultrasound Measurement of the Gallbladder Wall Thickness in the Assessment of the Risk of Conversion from Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy to Open Surgery - Olkusz County Experience.

The aim of the study was to assess the risk of intraoperative difficulties, conversion and biliary-intestinal fistula during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on the basis of an ultrasound-measured gall-bladder wall thickness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 50 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for chronic gallstone-induced cholecystitis. To calculate the relationships between categorical variables, a chi-square (χ2) independence test was used, and the results were interpreted for the significance threshold of α = 0.05. RESULTS: The relationship between the gall-bladder wall thickness and the occurrence of intraoperative difficulties in the analysed set is deterministic (AUC = 1), and the wall thickness of ≥ 5 mm allows to predict their occurrence as soon as at the stage of diagnostic evaluation (p < 0.001). In addition, the ultrasound-measured GB wall thickness is a good predictor of conversion (AUC = 0.976; 95% CI 0.444-0.975; p < 0.001) and biliary-intestinal fistula (AUC = 0.935; 95% CI 0.121-0.738; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results allow prediction of technically difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomies in patients with CCh, and selection of the right surgical team helps to reduce the number of conversions and possible complications. In addition, bearing in mind the above results in everyday practice should facilitate planning and increase effectiveness in the operating room.

Economic impact of additional radiographic studies after registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS)-certified emergency physician-performed identification of cholecystitis by ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: The standard evaluation of patients with right upper quadrant (RUQ) abdominal pain consists of a history and physical examination, laboratory analysis, and radiological investigation. Given the increasing availability of bedside ultrasound in the Emergency Department (ED), a growing proportion of Emergency Physicians are now performing their own ultrasound examinations in patients with RUQ abdominal pain to circumvent diagnostic delays and improve patient care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the economic "opportunity" costs of additional radiographic testing after identification of acute cholecystitis by focused ED ultrasound performed by registered diagnostic medical sonographer (RDMS)-certified personnel. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a consecutive sample of patients with "positive" focused ED ultrasounds of the RUQ that were significant for cholecystitis, who presented from June 1, 2005 through February 30, 2006. Cost analysis was performed using standard Medicare compensation indices for radiological examinations of the abdomen/hepatobiliary system. RESULTS: There were 37 patients enrolled; 32 patients exhibited RUQ pain with a focused ED ultrasound significant for cholecystitis. Eight (25%) patients received no further radiographic tests and exhibited positive pathology. Twenty-four (75%) patients had additional diagnostic examinations; 22 (92%) showed positive pathology. Based upon Medicare compensation indices, an opportunity cost of $6885.34 was incurred at our institution over 9 months due to additional examinations. Using nationally comparable indices, this was extrapolated to an opportunity cost of $63 million (95% confidence interval $48.3-$78.9 million) per year across the nation, assuming that 50% of patients with cholecystitis present to the ED and receive an ultrasound examination by an RDMS-certified Emergency Physician. CONCLUSIONS: In this small sample, additional radiological testing after ED ultrasounds significant for acute cholecystitis led to sizable economic costs on a local and national level. Formal cost-benefit analyses are needed to evaluate the full economic and patient care implications of ED ultrasound use in this setting.

JPEG2000 3D compression vs. 2D compression: an assessment of artifact amount and computing time in compressing thin-section abdomen CT images.

To assess the advantages of the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)2000 3D (part 2) over JPEG2000 in compressing thin-section abdomen CT data sets, 60 thin-section (0.67 mm) scans from 35 males and 25 females, ranging from 23 to 95 years of age (mean, 58 years), were compressed reversibly (as a negative control) and irreversibly to 4:1, 6:1, 8:1, 10:1, and 12:1 using JPEG2000 3D and JPEG2000 algorithms. Encoding and decoding times and peak signal-to-noise ratios (PSNRs) were measured. For 60 (one image per scan) representative sections containing abnormalities, three radiologists independently compared original and compressed images and graded compression artifacts as 0 (none, indistinguishable), 1 (barely perceptible), 2 (subtle), or 3 (significant). According to pooled radiologists' responses, the range of visually lossless threshold (VLT, the highest compression ratio at which a compressed image is indistinguishable from its original) was determined as one of <4:1, 4:1-6:1, 6:1-8:1, 8:1-10:1, 10:1-12:1, and >12:1. Wilcoxon signed rank tests and exact tests for paired proportions were used for the comparisons between the two compressions. At each irreversible compression ratio, compared to JPEG2000, JPEG2000 3D required two- or threefold greater computing times (p < 0.001) and introduced less artifacts in terms of PSNR (p <0.001) and the grade (p < 0.02 at 6:1 or higher) and the presence of perceived artifacts (p <0.008, at 6:1 for all readers and at 8:1 for two readers). According to PSNR and readers' responses, 6:1 and 8:1 JPEG2000 3D compressions showed more artifacts than 4:1 and 6:1 JPEG2000 compressions, respectively, and 10:1 and 12:1 JPEG2000 3D compressions showed similar artifacts to those of 8:1 and 10:1 JPEG2000 compressions, respectively. The determined VLT range was higher for JPEG2000 3D than for JPEG2000 (p < 0.001): the 3D compression showed the VLT ranges of 4:1-6:1, 6:1-8:1, and 8:1-10:1 for 24 (40%), 30 (50%), and 6 (10%) of the 60 original images, respectively, while the 2D compression showed the VLT ranges of <4:1, 4:1-6:1, and 6:1-8:1 for 1 (1.7%), 40 (66.7%), and 19 (31.6%) images, respectively. Compared to JPEG2000, JPEG2000 3D increased the VLT range in 23 of the 60 original images by one (n=22) or two ranges (n=1), while the remaining 37 images had the same VLT range between the two compressions. In conclusion, compared to JPEG2000 compression, JPEG2000 3D compression yields less artifacts in compressing thin-section abdomen CT images but requires significantly greater computing times. For the tested data set compressed to the range from 4:1 to 12:1, JPEG2000 3D could increase compression level reasonably (by 2 or less in terms of compression ratio) compared to JPEG2000 for the same amount of artifacts.