ABSTRACT
Introduction Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common procedure used for the treatment of different pathologies caused by gallstones in the gallbladder, and one of the most common indications is acute cholecystitis. The definitive treatment for acute cholecystitis is surgery, and LC is the gold standard. Nevertheless, transoperative complications (like intraoperative bleeding, anatomical abnormalities of the gallbladder, etc.) of LC and some other preoperative factors (like dilatation of bile duct, increased gallbladder wall thickness, etc.) can cause or be a risk factor for conversion to open cholecystectomy (OC). The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors and prevalence associated with the conversion from LC to OC in patients with gallbladder pathology and the indication for LC. Materials and methods This was a prospective cohort study. We included patients of both sexes over 18 years of age with gallbladder disease. To determine the risk factors associated with conversion, we performed a bivariate analysis and then a multivariate analysis. Results The rate of conversion to OC was 4.54%. The preoperative factors associated with conversion, in the bivariate analysis, were common bile duct dilatation (p=0.008), emergency surgery (p=0.014), and smoking (p=0.001); the associated intraoperative variables were: laparoscopic surgery duration (p <0.0001), Calot triangle edema (p=0.033), incapacity to hold the gallbladder with atraumatic laparoscopic tweezers (p=0.036), and choledocholithiasis (p=0.042). Laparoscopic Surgery duration was the only factor with a significant association in the multivariate analysis (p=0.0036); we performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and found a cut-off point of 120 minutes for the duration of laparoscopic surgery with a sensitivity and a specificity of 67 and 88%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of conversion from LC to OC is similar to that reported in the international literature. The risk factors associated with conversion to OC, in this study, should be confirmed in future clinical studies, in this same population, with a larger sample size.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is limited information about the factors related with the development of long-term permanent work disability (PWD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with a combination of conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (cs-DMARDs). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence and factors associated with the development of PWD in RA treated with combination therapy using conventional synthetic cs-DMARDs. METHODS: We assessed in multivariate models the effect of clinical and demographic factors in the development of PWD in a long-term retrospective cohort of 180 workers with RA who were treated with a combination of cs-DMARDs. RESULTS: Incidence rates of PWD were 2.2% at 1 year, 7.7% at 5 years, 24.9% at 10 years, 34.9% at 15 years, and 45% at 20 years. In the adjusted Cox regression analysis, factors associated with PWD development were the first failure with combination of cs-DMARDs (hazard ratio [HR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-5.46; P = 0.03), poor functioning at time of cohort onset (HR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.05-4.70; P = 0.03), and requirement for joint replacement (HR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.28-8.79; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Around 25% of workers with combination therapy with cs-DMARDs developed PWD in 10 years following the diagnosis of RA. Some factors increase the risk of disability. Permanent work disability generates a relevant society burden and increases health care costs. Therefore, indicators predicting failure of combination therapies with cs-DMARDs might provide clinicians of useful tools for modifying treatments avoiding the disease progression.
