Robotic-assisted cholecystectomy versus conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the established gold standard treatment for benign gallbladder diseases. However, robotic cholecystectomy is still controversial. Therefore, we aimed to compare intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in LC and robotic-assisted cholecystectomy (RAC) in patients with nonmalignant gallbladder conditions. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies comparing RAC to LC in patients with benign gallbladder disease. Only randomized trials and non-randomized studies with propensity score matching were included. Mean differences (MDs) were computed for continuous outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for binary endpoints, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. Statistical analysis was performed using Software R, version 4.2.3. A total of 13 studies comprising 22,440 patients were included, of whom 10,758 patients (47.94%) underwent RAC. The mean age was 48.5 years and 65.2% were female. Compared with LC, RAC significantly increased operative time (MD 12.59 min; 95% CI 5.62-19.55; p < 0.01; I2 = 79%). However, there were no significant differences between the groups in hospitalization time (MD -0.18 days; 95% CI - 0.43-0.07; p = 0.07; I2 = 89%), occurrence of intraoperative complications (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.38-1.15; p = 0.14; I2 = 35%) and bile duct injury (OR 0.99; 95% CI 0.64, 1.55; p = 0.97; I2 = 0%). RAC was associated with an increase in operative time compared with LC without increasing hospitalization time or the incidence of intraoperative complications. These findings suggest that RAC is a safe approach to benign gallbladder disease.

Temporal Analysis of the Incidence, Mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years of Benign Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases in High-Income Nations, 1990-2019.

Objective: The aim of this observational study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of benign gallbladder and biliary diseases across high-income countries between 1990 and 2019. Background: Benign gallbladder and biliary diseases place a substantial burden on healthcare systems in high-income countries. Accurate characterization of the disease burden may help optimize healthcare policy and resource distribution. Materials and methods: Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs), and DALYs data for gallbladder and biliary diseases in males and females were extracted from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. A mortality-incidence index (MII) was also calculated. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed. Results: The median ASIRs across the European Union 15+ countries in 2019 were 758/100,000 for females and 282/100,000 for males. Between 1990 and 2019 the median percentage change in ASIR was +2.49% for females and +1.07% for males. The median ASMRs in 2019 were 1.22/100,000 for females and 1.49/100,000 for males with a median percentage change over the observation period of -21.93% and -23.01%, respectively. In 2019, the median DALYs was 65/100,000 for females and 37/100,000 among males, with comparable percentage decreases over the observation period of -21.27% and -19.23%, respectively. Conclusions: International variation in lifestyle factors, diagnostic and management strategies likely account for national and sex disparities. This study highlights the importance of ongoing clinical efforts to optimize treatment pathways for gallbladder and biliary diseases, particularly in the provision of emergency surgical services and efforts to address population risk factors.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Outcomes of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Compared to the Open Procedure in Patients with Gallbladder Disease.

Background Conflicting evidence regarding the laparoscopic versus open cholecystectomy outcomes in scientific literature impacts the medical decision-making for patients with gallbladder disease. This study aimed to compare a range of primary and secondary outcomes between patients receiving laparoscopic cholecystectomy and those with open intervention. Methods Articles published from 1993 to 2023 were explored by utilizing advanced filters of PubMed Central/Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, JSTOR, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and EBSCO. The gallbladder disease was determined by the presence of one or more of the following conditions: 1) Gangrenous cholecystitis, 2) acute cholecystitis, 3) chronic gallbladder diseases, and 4) cholelithiasis. The primary end-point was mortality, while the secondary outcome included (1) bile leakage, 2) common bile duct injury, 3) gangrene, 4) hospital stay (days), 5) major complications, 6) median hospital stay (days), (7) pneumonia, 8) sick leaves (days), and 9) wound infection. Results Statistically significant reductions were observed in mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 0.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30, 0.45, p < 0.00001), mean hospital stay duration (mean difference: -2.68, 95% CI: -3.66, -1.70, p < 0.00001), major complications (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.64, p = 0.0005), post/intraoperative wound infection (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.51, p < 0.0001), and sick leaves (OR: 0.34, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.80, p = 0.01) in patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy compared with those with the open intervention. No statistically significant differences were recorded between the study groups for bile leakage, common bile duct injury, gangrene, median hospital stay days, and pneumonia ( p > 0.05). Conclusions The pooled outcomes favored the use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy over the open procedure in patients with gallbladder disease. The consolidated findings indicate the higher impact of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in improving patient outcomes, including safety episodes, compared with open cholecystectomy.

Adaptability in the Midst of Anatomical Challenges: A Case of Situs Inversus Totalis in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare and nonfatal congenital anomaly where there is a complete inversion of a patient's visceral organs. Throughout the patient's lifetime, they will encounter various challenges due to their unique anatomic variation. In this case, we report the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in a 33-year-old female with comorbid SIT who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy without postoperative complications. Despite the added layer of complexity in her presentation, we were able to perform the cholecystectomy laparoscopically with slight modifications to better accommodate her anatomical mirroring. Modifications made in the form of bed positioning, trochar placement, and surgical team positioning prove that strategic operative planning is essential to optimizing outcomes for this unique patient population.

Gallbladder carcinosarcoma with a poor prognosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder is a rare malignant tumor with a very poor prognosis. To date, only approximately 100 patients have been reported in the English literature. The prognosis of this tumor type is poor, the preoperative diagnosis is difficult, and there is a possibility of a misdiagnosis. We present an unsuccessful case of carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder with a preoperative misdiagnosis and rapid early postoperative recurrence. Therefore, we have a deeper understanding of the poor prognosis of gallbladder carcinosarcoma (GBC) patients. CASE SUMMARY: The patient is a 65-year-old male. He was admitted to the hospital because of right upper abdomen distending pain and discomfort for half a month. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a polycystic mass in the right lobe of the liver and the fossa of the gallbladder. After admission, the patient was diagnosed with a liver abscess, which was treated by abscess puncture drainage. Obviously, this treatment was unsuccessful. Hepatectomy and cholecystectomy were performed one month after the puncture. Postoperative pathologic examination revealed carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder, and the resected specimen contained two tumor components. One month after surgery, the patient's tumor recurred in situ and started to compress the duodenum, resulting in duodenal obstruction and bleeding. The treatment was not effective. The patient died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage and hypovolemic shock. CONCLUSION: Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder is a rare malignant tumor that is easily misdiagnosed preoperatively and has a poor prognosis.

Recent Advances in Endoscopic Ultrasound for Gallbladder Disease Diagnosis.

Gallbladder (GB) disease is classified into two broad categories: GB wall-thickening and protuberant lesions, which include various lesions, such as adenomyomatosis, cholecystitis, GB polyps, and GB carcinoma. This review summarizes recent advances in the differential diagnosis of GB lesions, focusing primarily on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and related technologies. Fundamental B-mode EUS and contrast-enhanced harmonic EUS (CH-EUS) have been reported to be useful for the diagnosis of GB diseases because they can evaluate the thickening of the GB wall and protuberant lesions in detail. We also outline the current status of EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for GB lesions, as there have been scattered reports on EUS-FNA in recent years. Furthermore, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, ranging from machine learning to deep learning, have become popular in healthcare for disease diagnosis, drug discovery, drug development, and patient risk identification. In this review, we outline the current status of AI in the diagnosis of GB.

Negative workup? Laparoscopic cholecystectomy Still alleviates symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that patients with abdominal pain and biliary dyskinesia (low ejection fraction <35 â€‹%) have significant improvement of symptoms following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but there is lack of evidence that demonstrates whether patients with biliary symptoms and a normal ejection fraction (>35 â€‹%) will have similar results. METHODS: Retrospective, single center study of patients with biliary pain and negative workup, including HIDA with EF>35 â€‹%, who were treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 2017 to 2022. RESULTS: There were 117 total patients. The mean age was 45.49 â€‹± â€‹15.5 years and 101 (86 â€‹%) were female. 101 (86 â€‹%) of patients underwent a right upper quadrant ultrasound, 91 had normal findings, 9 difficult to visualize anatomy and 1 had adenomyomatosis. All patients had a normal HIDA scan and ejection fraction 104 (89 â€‹%) of patients followed up in clinic within 30 days of surgical intervention. 87 (84 â€‹%) reported resolution of pre-operative symptomatology after surgical intervention. There was no statistically significant correlation between pain with CCK administration during HIDA (p â€‹= â€‹0.803) scan or ejection fraction (p â€‹= â€‹0.0977) with resolution of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy appears to be a beneficial intervention for patients with abdominal pain and normokinetic biliary disease. Offering surgical intervention early on can potentially save patients from exhaustive diagnostic investigations and possibly misdiagnosis.

The Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Detection of Gallbladder Disease: A Meta-analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically assess the diagnostic value of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in the detection of gallbladder diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies up to May 22, 2023. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio and negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic odds ratio, area under the curve of summary receiver operating characteristic were calculated using the bivariate model. Subgroup analysis based on cholecystitis and cholelithiasis was conducted. RESULTS: A total of seven studies with 1464 participants were identified in this meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity of POCUS for the detection of gallbladder disease was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.93) and the pooled specificity was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.96). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of POCUS for the detection of acute cholecystitis were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.86) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.98). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of POCUS for the detection of gallstones were 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.96) and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.95). CONCLUSION: POCUS was a favorable modality for the detection of patients suspected of gallbladder disease, especially for cholelithiasis. Physicians are advised to use POCUS in clinical practice as a non-invasive test to detect gallbladder disease.

Propensity Score Matched Comparison of Robotic Single-Site and Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Background and Objectives: To demonstrate the feasibility and potential of robotic single-site cholecystectomy, the study aimed to compare it with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: In total, 791 consecutive patients underwent conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy or robotic single-site cholecystectomy at our center between 2019 and 2022. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 117 patients for each group were selected. Results: After propensity score matching, the only statistically significant difference between conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy and robotic single-site cholecystectomy was operative time, which was 29.15 ±11.45 min in the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy group versus 38.57 ± 12.59 min in the robotic single-site cholecystectomy group (P < 0.001). Because the difference in surgical time between the two groups was minimal, it has little clinical relevance. Using cumulative sum analysis, the maturation phase of the total operation and docking times occurred after the 53rd case. To reduce bias, a comparison of results with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy and cases of robotic single-site cholecystectomy was performed in the maturation phase, which revealed only total operative time as statistically significant (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Robotic single-site cholecystectomy is a technically feasible and safe method for treating benign gallbladder diseases, with a relatively short learning curve and reasonable operative time.

Gallbladder Volvulus Masquerading as Acute Cholecystitis: A Case Report.

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare condition that disproportionately affects elderly women. It occurs in patients with aberrant anatomy that results in a hypermobile gallbladder free to twist on the mesentery, leading to ischemia and necrosis. Due to its close resemblance to cholecystitis, it is difficult to diagnose preoperatively, thus most cases are diagnosed intraoperatively. In our case, a 90-year-old female was transferred to the hospital from an outside facility after being diagnosed with acute cholecystitis. A robotic-assisted laparoscopic approach was used to gain entry into the abdomen. Upon entry, the gallbladder was gangrenous, detached from the liver bed, and twisted on the cystic duct. Despite the presence of severe inflammatory changes and adhesions, the gallbladder was resected without complications, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day five.

Successful Management of Recurrent Cholangitis Post Cholecystectomy in a Primary Care Hospital.

Cholangitis, a pathological disease characterized by inflammation of the biliary system, often occurs in conjunction with gallstone blockage and may lead to various problems, persisting for extended periods after cholecystectomy. The present report provides a comprehensive account of a clinical case involving a 35-year-old female patient who had undergone cholecystectomy three years before and is now experiencing symptoms consistent with cholangitis. The individual was originally given conservative therapy, which included the administration of intravenous ceftriaxone antibiotics, analgesics, fluids, and gastrointestinal treatment. Subsequently, they were sent to a tertiary care hospital for the performance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and the placement of a stent. Following a period of seven days, laboratory tests showed a return to normalcy, showing a positive outcome in response to the use of conservative management strategies. The patient made the decision to have an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, resulting in a favorable recuperation and a hospitalization period of 24 hours. The aforementioned results jointly demonstrate the efficacy of conservative therapy in treating cholangitis and the potential for eventual elective surgery in individuals experiencing prolonged gallbladder problems. In conclusion, this case underscores the need to maintain a state of alertness with respect to complications associated with cholecystectomy, such as cholangitis. It also emphasizes the effectiveness of conservative treatment approaches and the probable necessity for elective surgical intervention.

Hypokinetic Biliary Dyskinesia in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

The diagnosis of biliary dyskinesia (BD) in pediatric patients lacks uniformity across the literature. BD is among the most common reasons for cholecystectomy in pediatric patients. Even still, diagnostic criteria for this disorder, including symptomatology and gallbladder ejection fraction, as well as the symptomatic relief after cholecystectomy, are inconsistent across the literature for the pediatric population. We share the case of an 18-year-old female patient who presented to our clinic for cholecystectomy for a diagnosis of BD. After 10 months of seeking a diagnosis, an eventual nuclear medicine HIDA scan revealed a biliary ejection fraction of 18%, leading her to our care. The patient underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy and tolerated the procedure well, reporting a resolution of symptoms on follow-up. The diagnosis and management of BD are complicated by the combination of vague and varied symptomatology and a lack of definitive, uniform diagnostic criteria in the pediatric population. Variability in diagnostic requirements varies between sources. While some look to the interpretation of gallbladder emptying studies, others rely on surgical outcomes. To further complicate diagnosis, some patients experience symptoms that do not correlate with their gallbladder emptying studies. The controversy extends beyond diagnosis as some studies argue against cholecystectomy as a treatment for BD, as it has been shown to not always resolve symptoms. More research should be conducted to identify and establish more consistent diagnostic criteria for BD in the pediatric population, as well as to study symptomatic improvement following cholecystectomy to establish optimal treatment for these patients. Biliary dyskinesia is a relatively common but rather inconsistent diagnosis in the pediatric population, and attention should be turned toward developing uniform and consistent diagnostic criteria in order to optimally recognize, diagnose, and treat these patients, ensuring a shorter time-to-diagnosis and improved quality of life.

Occurrence and clinical relevance of postoperative hypernatremia in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing cholecystectomy have not been reported previously to develop clinically relevant postoperative hypernatremia. OBJECTIVES: Describe the frequency of postoperative hypernatremia in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy and its clinical relevance (duration of hospitalization and survival). ANIMALS: Thirty-seven dogs undergoing cholecystectomy at 2 private referral hospitals. METHODS: Retrospective study of dogs undergoing cholecystectomy with available preoperative and postoperative serum sodium concentrations. RESULTS: Postoperative hypernatremia (>150 mEq/L) was common (56%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 40%-70%) and was associated with significantly higher mortality compared to nonhypernatremic patients (52%; 95% CI, 30%-70% vs 12.5%; 95% CI, 2%-40%; P = .02). Nonsurvivors had higher mean postoperative peak serum sodium concentrations (155 mEq/L; range, 146-172) than survivors (150 mEq/L; range, 142-156; P = .01). Dogs developing hypernatremia within 6 hours after surgery had 7.7 higher odds of nonsurvival (odds ratio [OR], 7.7; 95% CI, 5.9-9.4). A delta value (serum sodium concentration on admission [T0] - serum sodium concentration 6 hours postoperatively [T2]) of ≥10 mEq/L carried 3.3 higher odds of mortality (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-5.1). All dogs with a postoperative peak sodium concentration >160 mEq/L did not survive. Admission acute patient physiologic laboratory evaluation fast (APPLEfast ) scores were not different between survivors and nonsurvivors or between postoperative hypernatremic and normonatremic patients. Hospitalization time was no different between hypernatremic and normonatremic patients (6 days vs 4.5 days; P = .15). Dogs with gallbladder mucocele were more likely to develop postoperative hypernatremia and have poorer outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Hypernatremia was a common and clinically relevant postoperative complication in dogs after cholecystectomy. Detection of hypernatremia within 6 hours after surgery may be associated with poorer outcomes.

Post-cholecystectomy syndrome: A cohort study from a single private tertiary center.

Objectives: Although post-cholecystectomy syndrome (PCS) is a well-recognized complication, there are few reports arising from KSA. The effect of sleeve gastrectomy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) stenting on the development of PCS is unknown. We aimed to measure the possible factors affecting the development of PCS, such as symptom duration, comorbidities, previous bariatric surgery, ERCP stent insertion, surgical intervention, conversion to open surgery and complication rate. Methods: This was a prospective cohort and observational study conducted at a single, private tertiary center. We included 167 patients who underwent surgery for gallbladder disease between October 2019 and June 2020. The patients were classified into two groups according to their PCS status (PCS+ vs. PCS-). Results: Thirty-nine patients were PCS+ (23.3%). There was no significant difference between the two groups with regards to age, gender, BMI, ASA score, smoking, comorbidities, duration of symptoms, previous bariatric surgery, ERCP, stent insertion or sphincterotomy. Chronic cholecystitis was the predominant histopathology in 83% (139/167) of patients. The most frequent causes of PCS included biliary system dysfunction, bile salt-induced diarrhea, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and retained stones. Overall, 71.8% (28/39) of patients had incident PCS; the remaining patients had persistent PCS. Conclusions: PCS is a neglected complication that was observed in 25% of patients mainly in the first year. Surgeon awareness can assist with patient diagnosis, preoperative selection and education. Furthermore, the history of ERCP stenting, sphincterotomy, or sleeve gastrectomy seems to be unrelated to PCS development.

Gallbladder disease is associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease among Uyghurs in Xinjiang: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder disease (GBD) can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, GBD has rarely been reported in the less developed, rural areas of Xinjiang. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of GBD and incidence of CVD in a prospective cohort study in rural Xinjiang. Moreover, the study aimed to explore the association between GBD and CVD within this cohort. METHODS: The study cohort included 11,444 Uyghur adults in Xinjiang, 3rd division, from the 51st Mission. Study groups were classified according to whether GBD was present or absent at baseline. The occurrence of CVD was the end event. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were recorded, and the incidence of CVD in the GBD and non-GBD groups analysed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the association between GBD and CVD and factors associated with their incidence. Several subgroup analyses were performed to assess CVD incidence in different subgroups. The interaction between GBD and cardiometabolic risk factors, and subsequent risk of developing CVD, was evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalence of GBD in the study cohort was 10.29%. After a median follow-up of 4.92 years, the cumulative incidence of CVD in the study cohort was 10.49%, 8.43% in males and 12.65% in females. CVD incidence was higher in the GBD group (34.04% vs. 7.78%, HR = 4.96, 95% CI: 4.40-5.59). After multivariate adjustment, the risk of CVD remained higher in the GBD group (HR = 2.89, 95% CI: 2.54-3.29). Subgroup analyses showed male sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, and abnormal renal function were all associated with increased risk of CVD. Moreover, the risk of CVD was markedly higher in GBD combined with cardiometabolic risk factors (hypertension, T2DM, dyslipidaemia, overweight, and abdominal obesity), than in cardiometabolic risk factors alone and this was higher in the GBD group than in the non-GBD group regardless of whether cardiometabolic risk factors were combined. CONCLUSION: GBD is an important independent risk factor for CVD development. Awareness of these associations will raise concerns among clinicians about the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with GBD.

Effect of Rowachol on the Gallbladder Dysmotility Disorder Based on Gallbladder Ejection Fraction.

Background and Objectives: Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment method in patients who experience typical biliary pain with or without gallstones, medical treatment has not been extensively studied. Rowachol is a potent choleretic agent, comprising six cyclic monoterpenes. This study aimed to investigate the clinical improvement and changes in gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) by Rowachol treatment in patients with typical biliary pain. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 138 patients with typical biliary pain who underwent cholescintigraphy from July 2016 to April 2022. We included patients who received Rowachol for more than 2 months and underwent follow-up GBEF measurements. Finally, we analyzed pre- and post-treatment symptoms and GBEF. GBEF was calculated using the fatty meal-stimulated cholescintigraphy. Results: This retrospective observational study included 31 patients; their median age was 46.0 (range, 26.0-72.7) years, and 22 (71.0%) were female. Overall, 9 (29.0%) patients had gallbladder stones or sludges (maximum size: 2 mm) on initial transabdominal ultrasonography. During a median follow-up of 23.3 months, the symptoms of 21 (67.7%) patients were resolved after a median Rowachol treatment of 10.0 months. The mean GBEF was significantly improved after Rowachol treatment (initial cholescintigraphy: 42.6% ± 16.2%; follow-up cholescintigraphy: 53.0% ± 18.1%, p = 0.012). In patients with a GBEF ≤35% (n = 9), Rowachol significantly increased the GBEF from 21.3% ± 8.3% to 49.1% ± 20.7% (p = 0.008). Conclusions: Rowachol may have beneficial medical effects that can improve gallbladder dysfunction and treatment response.

An Iatrogenic Injury? Anthony Eden and the Suez Crisis of 1956.

In 1953, Eden, then Britain's Foreign Secretary, sustained a bile duct injury during a cholecystectomy. After reconstructive surgery at the Lahey Clinic, he continued to experience episodes of cholangitis, notably during the Suez Crisis of 1956. By then prime minister, the crisis ended in a humiliating retreat for Eden and for Britain. The role that his iatrogenic injury, its long term sequelae, and the cocktail of drugs he took to treat them played in his decision making has been an ongoing source of debate almost from the time of the crisis. This article reviews the Suez crisis, Eden's medical history, and the debate over Eden's health.