Increased Risk of Major Depressive Disorder After Cholecystectomy: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Korea.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the risk of depression in Korean adults who underwent cholecystectomy and appeared for subsequent long-term follow-ups. A national population-based data set was used for analysis. METHODS: All patients (n = 111,934) aged 40 years and older who underwent cholecystectomy between 2010 and 2015 and a control population (n = 223,868), matched for age and sex, were identified from the database of the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of depression were estimated after cholecystectomy, and a Cox regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: The incidence of depression in the cholecystectomy group was 27.3 per 1,000 person-years and that in the control group was 20.3 per 1,000 person-years. Patients who underwent cholecystectomy showed an increased risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) with an adjusted HR (aHR) of 1.34 (95% CI: 1.31-1.37, P < 0.001). The mean follow-up period after a 1-year lag was 3.67 ± 1.79 years. In the subgroup analysis, the risk of developing MDD after cholecystectomy was relatively high in patients aged 40-49 years (aHR 1.51, 95% CI: 1.44-1.58) and in participants without diabetes mellitus (aHR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.33-1.39), hypertension (aHR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.34-1.42), or dyslipidemia (aHR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.32-1.38). DISCUSSION: Compared with the control population, patients who underwent cholecystectomy exhibited an increased incidence of MDD. Thus, physicians should implement an enhanced program of MDD screening for at least several years after cholecystectomy.

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.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) and Cortisol Monitoring as Stress Markers During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Standard and Low Intraabdominal Pressure and Open Cholecystectomy.

INTRODUCTION: In this study we wanted to examine the hormonal responses due to stress exposure during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standard (12-15 mm / Hg) (LCSP) and low (6-8 mm / Hg) (LCLP) intraabdominal pressure and open cholecystectomy (OC), with particular emphasis on stress hormone responses. AIM: Determination of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol stress hormones before and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standard and low insufflation pressure, determination of ACTH and cortisol values before and after open cholecystectomy and comparison of ACTH and cortisol values between the patient sub-groups. METHODS: In a prospective study conducted between July 2016 and February 2018, we involved 110 patients which were divided into two groups: 70 patients with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and 40 patients with open cholecystectomy (OC). The first group of patients was further divided into two subgroups of 35 patients, (subgroup LC with standard and subgroup LC with low intraabdominal pressure). All patients met the preset inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study. There were no statistically significant differences in the demographic characteristics of patients between the investigated groups. The stress hormones determined were adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol. RESULTS: During the first, second and seventh day postoperative day (POD),ACTH values were significantly lower (p <0.0001) in LCLP than in LCSP and OC groups. This was also the case for comparison in LCSP and OC groups. By comparing LC and OC groups during first, the second and seventh POD, there was a significant difference (p <0.0001) in the ACTH levels. The concentration of this hormone was higher in the OC group in all three cases. The first, second and seventh POD were also statistically significant (p <0.0001) in cortisol values and between LC and OC groups there was an increase in cortisol levels in patients operated by open method. There was also a significant difference (p <0.0001) in cortisol values measured between LCLP and LCSP groups in the investigated days. Cortisol levels were higher in patients in the LCSP group. CONCLUSION: During open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy the response of the body to stress increased. The stress response of the organism during laparoscopic cholecystectomy was less than during open cholecystectomy. The stress response of the organism during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with low insufflation pressure ( 6-8mmHg) was less than during laparoscopic cholecystectomy with standard insufflation pressure (12-15mmHg).

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.

Psychosocial characteristics and pain burden of patients with suspected sphincter of Oddi dysfunction in the EPISOD multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVES: Patients with several painful functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are reported to have a high prevalence of psychosocial disturbance. These aspects have not been studied extensively in patients with suspected Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD). METHODS: A total of 214 patients with post-cholecystectomy pain and suspected SOD were enrolled in seven US centers in a multicenter-randomized trial (Evaluating Predictors and Interventions in Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction). Baseline assessments included pain descriptors and burden, structured psychosocial assessments of anxiety/depression, coping, trauma, and health-related quality of life. Patients with high levels of depression, suicidal ideation, or psychosis were excluded. RESULTS: The study population (92% female, mean age 38) reported anxiety (9%), depression (8%), past sexual trauma (18%), and physical abuse (10%). Of the total screened population (n=1460), 3.9% of the patients were excluded because of the presence of defined severe psychological problems. The mean medical outcomes study short-form-36 (SF-36) physical and mental composite scores were 38.70 (s.d.=7.89) and 48.74 (s.d.=9.60), respectively. Most subjects reported symptoms of other FGIDs. There were no correlations between the extent of the pain burden in the 3 months before enrollment and the baseline anxiety scores or victimization history. However, those with greater pain burden were significantly more depressed. There were no meaningful differences in the psychosocial parameters in subjects with or without irritable bowel, and those who had cholecystectomy for stones or functional gallbladder disease. Those declining randomization were comparable to those randomized. CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial comorbidity in SOD is high. However, it does not appear to differ significantly from that reported in surveys of age- and gender-matched general populations, and may be lower than reported with other FGIDs.

[The quality of life after cholecystectomy].

The quality of life (QOL) of three groups of patients who had undergone the routine cholecystectomy (RCE), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCE), or cholecystectomy using the minilaparatomy approach (MCE). QOL was assessed using the standard SF-36 questionnaire and on selected criteria. The postoperative complications rate after any version of cholecystectomy did not exceed the average rate in other studies. Patients with a history of LCE and MCE, returned to their normal social and intellectual activity faster; they reported higher perception and judgment on the state of their health and well-being, which in turn suggests the higher quality of life. Patients after RCE reported worse results due to a longer recovery period.

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.

Impact of acceptance-based nursing intervention on postsurgical recovery: preliminary findings

Research has shown that teaching individuals to experience pain and anxiety as inevitable products of the actions they freely and responsibly undertake yields healthier reactions to suffering. This preliminary study assesses whether a brief acceptancebased psychological intervention along with the usual presurgical protocol for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy will produce healthier reactions to postsurgical pain, and will reduce anxiety, duration of postsurgical hospitalization, and demand of analgesics. After admission, screening, and consent procedures, we assessed pain and anxiety. Patients in the experimental condition (n = 6) then received a brief acceptance-based nursing intervention addressing the individual meaning of surgery, and including a metaphor and defusion practice, along with routine care. Patients in the control condition (n = 7) received routine care only. Twenty-four hr following the intervention, surgery took place. Pain, anxiety, and patients’ demand for analgesics were assessed 24 hr or 48 hr after surgery. All six experimental patients, as compared to three of seven control patients, demanded fewer analgesics and left the hospital within 24 hr or 48 hr from surgery even in the presence of frequent and/or intense pain. Anxiety slightly decreased in the experimental patients. The brief acceptance-based intervention was effective in improving postsurgical recovery. These preliminary findings support the potential of this type of intervention as a cost-effective strategy to be implemented in the sanitary context (AU)

Se ha demostrado que enseñar a los individuos a experimentar el dolor y la ansiedad como productos inevitables de las acciones que ellos, libre y responsablemente, deciden emprender, produce menos sufrimiento. El estudio se llevó a cabo en un hospital. Este estudio, preliminar, examina los efectos de un protocolo breve basado en la aceptación en la mejora de la recuperación postquirúrgica tras una colecistectomía laparoscópica, entendida como: reacciones más saludables al dolor y reducción de la ansiedad, duración de hospitalización y demanda de analgésicos. Una vez completada la admisión, selección de participantes, y obtención del consentimiento, se tomaron medidas de dolor y ansiedad. Los pacientes experimentales (n = 6) recibieron entonces el protocolo, que incluía la evaluación del significado individual de la cirugía, una metáfora y práctica de defusion, junto con los cuidados rutinarios preoperatorios. Los pacientes controles (n = 7) recibieron cuidados rutinarios preoperatorios solamente. La cirugía se llevó a cabo veinticuatro horas tras la implementación del protocolo. Pasadas 24 o 48 horas desde la cirugía, se tomó una segunda medida de dolor, ansiedad y demanda de analgésicos. El protocolo implementado mejoró sensiblemente el postoperatorio de los pacientes experimentales: todos, en comparación con tres de los siete controles, demandaron menos analgésicos, recibieron el alta a las 24 o 48 horas tras la cirugía, y puntuaron más bajo en ansiedad. Estos resultados preliminares apoyan el potencial de este tipo de intervenciones para ser implementadas en el contexto sanitario (AU)