The early prediction of mortality in acute cholecystitis: Temperature, Neutrophils and Multiple organ failure (TNM) score.

OBJECTIVE: Acute Cholecystitis (AC) accounts for a significant proportion of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with abdominal pain. We suggest grading the severity of AC with a simple system: TNM, an acronym borrowed by cancer staging where T indicated Temperature, N neutrophils and M Multiple organ failure. This retrospective-prospective observational study evaluates the predictive value of TNM score on mortality of patients with AC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TNM was developed in a training cohort of 178 patients with AC who underwent cholecystectomy from February 2005 to December 2012 (retrospectives data). To verify the prognostic value of TNM score, we prospectively recruited 172 patients who were consecutively included and treated from January 2013 to July 2020 as the validation cohort. After defining the categories T, N and M, patients were grouped in stages. The variables analyzed were age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, blood transfusion, temperature, neutrophils count, preoperative organ failure, immune-compromised status, stage. RESULTS: In the training cohort TNM staging was: none patient at stage 0; 6 patients at stage I; 71 patients at stage II; 71 patients at stage III; 30 patients at stage IV. Death occurred in 51 patients. ASA score, neutrophils count, preoperative organ failure, stage III-IV emerged as statistically significant different prognostic factors. ASA score (III-IV) and stage (III-IV) were significant independent predictors of post-operative mortality in multivariate analysis. Comparable results were observed in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: TNM classification is very easy to use; it helps to define the mortality risk and it is useful to objectively compare patients with AC.

COVID-19 lockdown impact on common general surgical acute presentations to a regional centre in New Zealand.

AIM: New Zealand's stated goal of eradicating COVID-19 included the enforcement of a national lockdown. During this time, a perceived decrease in hospital presentations nationwide was noted. This was also the experience of the Department of General Surgery, Bay of Plenty District Health Board (BOPDHB). We sought to quantify this reduction by analysing the frequency and severity of three common acute general surgical presentations; appendicitis, cholecystitis and diverticulitis. METHODS: Data on presentations of patients with appendicitis, cholecystitis and diverticulitis were retrospectively collected for the national lockdown period (25 March 2020-27 April 2020) and the immediate pre-lockdown period (21 February 2020-25 March 2020). Data collected included patient demographics, duration of symptoms, method of diagnosis, treatment, severity of disease, length of stay and complications. RESULTS: A reduction of 62.2% was noted in the frequency of appendicitis during the lockdown period compared to the pre-lockdown period. Patients presented later during lockdown and had a higher complication rate (5.4% versus 42.8%). Similarly, a 39.2% reduction in presentations of cholecystitis during lockdown was found. The lockdown group of patients had a longer length of stay (6.9 versus 4 days) and only one patient (9.1%, 1/11) was managed with laparoscopic cholecystectomy during the lockdown period, compared to 52.9% of patients (9/17) over the pre-lockdown period. No difference in frequency or severity of acute diverticulitis presentations between the two periods was found. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 lockdown led to fewer presentations, but these were often delayed, with more complications and a longer length of stay. This could be partly explained by patient fear around exposure to the virus and reluctance to attend hospital. More research is needed to study the flow-on effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on surgical presentations.

Surgical treatment of acute cholecystitis in obese patients.

<b>Introduction:</b> In today's technological climate, science and medicine have entered a new era. At the level of technological progress, we have identified millennia of "new" problems and diseases. If earlier diseases had a certain individuality then, in the third millennium, we face compliance and synergistic influence of diseases. Obesity is a problem of the third millennium. It is known that obesity is the main factor in the development of various chronic diseases [1-3]. With excess weight and obesity, bile is oversaturated with cholesterol, resulting in an increase of its lipogenicity index. As a result, frequency of gallstone disease increases; findings from this study document an increase of disease frequency as high as 50% to 60% [4]. In 20% of patients, housing concerns are combined with obesity [5]. Thus, obesity is one of the factors in the development of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis [6]. The presence of acute cholecystitis represents the most difficult situation for patients with gallstones. When obesity is also present, the patient's risk of surgical complications increases due to altered homeostasis and reduced reserve capacity [7]. A retrospective study of this issue [8] posed a number of questions about the possibility of influencing the course of disease in the preoperative period as well as the improvement and impact of surgical technicalities in patients with acute cholecystitis and obesity. Addressing these and additional questions is the main goal of this study. <br><b>Aim: </b>The aim of the study was to study and select the optimal method of surgery in patients with acute cholecystitis and obesity. <br><b>Materials and methods:</b> In our study, a prospective analysis was used. We analyzed 67 cases with diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and obesity; all were treated at Kyiv Regional Clinical Hospital in the period from September 2018 to March 2020. Patients with acute cholecystitis and obesity received either traditional or modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy. <br><b>Results:</b> Retrospective analysis indicates traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy is technically difficult and costly in patients with acute cholecystitis and obesity. A modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been proposed to improve and enhance surgery in patients with acute cholecystitis and obesity. Surgical duration was shortened by 9.01 ± 0.41 minutes (p = 0.001; αα= 0.05) when a modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. <br><b>Conclusions:</b> Performing a modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduced the duration of surgery by 9.01 ± 0.41 minutes (p = 0.001; α = 0.05), prevents development of metabolic acidosis pH 7.39 ± 0.03 vs 7.30 ± 0.005 = 0.001; αα= 0.05, pCO2 5.05 ± 0.36 vs 6.03 ± 0.38 (p = 0.02; αα= 0.05), reducing the risk of hypercoagulation. Modified laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LHE) is effective in II and III degrees of obesity (p = 0.001; α = 0.05).

Neutrophils injure gallbladder interstitial Cajal-like cells in a guinea pig model of acute cholecystitis.

Acute cholecystitis is a common disease with gallbladder dysmotility. Disease pathogenesis involves immune cell infiltration as well as changes in gallbladder interstitial Cajal-like cells (ICLCs). However, it remains unclear if or how the immune cells affect ICLC morphology, density, distribution, and function in gallbladder tissue during acute cholecystitis. In this study, we explored the acute cholecystitis-related alterations in gallbladder ICLCs in a guinea pig model, focusing on the effects of neighboring neutrophils. Adult guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups (control, 24 hr common bile duct ligation [CBDL], 48-hr CBDL, and antipolymorphonuclear neutrophil [PMN] treated) and analyzed using methylene blue staining and immunofluorescence. Gallbladder contractility was also monitored. To culture gallbladder ICLCs, collagenase digestion was performed on tissue from 10- to 15-day-old guinea pigs. Neutrophils isolated from the peripheral blood of experimental animals 48-hr postsurgery were also cocultured with the gallbladder ICLCs. Intracellular calcium was detected with Fluo-4 AM dye. Our results showed that gallbladder ICLC density significantly declined during acute cholecystitis and was accompanied by shortening of the cellular processes and damage to their network-like structure. However, pretreatment with anti-PMN partially prevented these changes. Gallbladder contraction was also significantly decreased during acute cholecystitis, and this appeared to be mediated by the neutrophils. Moreover, ICLCs cocultured with neutrophils also had shortened and reduced processes and impaired network-like structure formation. Intracellular calcium transient was less sensitive to contraction agonists and inhibitors when cocultured with neutrophils. Taken together, neutrophils greatly affect gallbladder ICLCs and dysmotility during acute cholecystitis.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy for severe (Tokyo 2013 stage III) acute cholecystitis.

PURPOSES: To evaluate the impact of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) on severe acute cholecystitis (AC). METHODS: According to the ICD-9 classification, we retrospectively retrieved medical records of patients discharged with a diagnosis of AC from January 2007 to December 2016 at our hospital. Patients were then stratified according to the Tokyo 2013 (TG 13) AC severity criteria. Grade III AC was diagnosed according to the TG 13 criteria. Indications for PC were failure of optimal medical treatment within 48 h, worsening of clinical condition within early medical treatment, patients unfit for upfront surgery and patient's preference. Ascites was considered a contraindication to PC while coagulopathy was considered a minor contraindication. Primary end points were: clinical improvement, morbidity and related mortality. Secondary endpoints were AC recurrences and elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies (LS). Response was evaluated by clinical and blood test improvement. Morbidity was evaluated according to the Dindo-Clavien scale. RESULTS: A total of 117 eligible patients were diagnosed as grade III AC. Of these, 29 (24.7%) underwent PC. The procedure was completed in all cases. Overall morbidity rate was 20.6%. Main complication was the drainage dislodgement due to involuntary patient's movement. Overall mortality was 17.2% but no causes of death were dependent upon the procedure. Clinical improvement was reported in 95.5% of surviving patients. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that PC is a valuable tool in the treatment of severe AC. Randomized trials are needed to clarify the criteria for patient selection and to optimize the timing for both cholecystostomy and cholecystectomy.

Ruptured Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Successfully Treated with Urgent Cholecystectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm is rare, and some cases are associated with inflammation of the gallbladder. There is limited information regarding this condition, and the clinical features remain unclear. This report is a case of ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) imaging and treated with urgent cholecystectomy and is supported by a literature review of previous cases. CASE REPORT A 90-year-old man, who had developed acute cholecystitis due to a gallstone one month previously, was referred to our hospital. He developed fever and epigastric pain while waiting for a scheduled elective cholecystectomy. Laboratory investigations showed elevated markers of inflammation and elevated hepatobiliary enzyme levels. Computed tomography (CT) imaging showed cholecystitis and pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery. The pseudoaneurysm had ruptured and was accompanied by the formation of a hematoma within the gallbladder that involved the liver bed. Having made the preoperative diagnosis, an urgent open laparotomy was performed, during which the gallbladder was found to have perforated. The hematoma penetrated into the liver bed. Cholecystectomy was performed, and the pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery was extirpated. There were no serious postoperative complications. A literature review identified 50 previously reported case of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm. CONCLUSIONS A case of ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, successfully treated with urgent cholecystectomy is reported, supported by a literature review of previous cases and characterization of the clinical features of this rare condition.

Hepatitis E Virus Infection after Platelet Transfusion in an Immunocompetent Trauma Patient.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection causes acute liver disease, but severe infections are rare in immunocompetent patients. We describe a case of HEV infection in a previously healthy male trauma patient in France who received massive transfusions. Genotyping confirmed HEV in a transfused platelet pool and the donor.

Outcome of acute perforated cholecystitis: a register study of over 5000 cases from a quality control database in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Acute perforated cholecystitis (APC) is probably the most severe complication of acute cholecystitis. However, data on the outcome of cholecystectomy for APC are limited to small series. This study investigated the outcomes of cholecystectomy for APC. METHODS: Data from a prospectively maintained quality control database in Germany were analyzed. Cases with APC were compared to cases without gallbladder perforation with regard to demographic characteristics, clinical findings and surgical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 5704 patients with APC were compared to 39,661 patients without perforation. Risk factors for APC included: the male gender, advanced age (>65 years), ASA score >2, elevated white blood count (WBC), positive findings on abdominal ultrasound sonography and fever. The APC group differed significantly from the control group with regard to fever (29.8 vs. 12.2 %), elevated WBC (83.8 vs. 65.4 %) and positive findings from ultrasound sonography (84.9 vs. 78.9 %), p < 0001. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) was ordered significantly more often in the APC group compared to the control group (2.3 vs. 1.0 %, p = 0.001). Surgery lasted significantly longer in the APC group (92.3 ± 40.8 vs. 73.7 ± 34.1, p < 0.001). The rates of conversion (18.9 vs. 6.8 %), bile duct injury (1.4 vs. 0.5 %), re-intervention (6.9 vs. 2.9 %) and mortality (4.3 vs. 1.3 %) were significantly higher in the APC group (p < 0.001). Similarly, the length of stay (13.4 ± 11.4 vs. 9.0 ± 8.3, p < 0.001) was significantly longer in the APC group. CONCLUSION: Acute perforated cholecystitis is a severe complication of acute cholecystitis. Surgical dissection could be challenging with high risks of bile duct injury and conversion. The rates of morbidity and mortality are higher compared to those of patients without perforation.

Small Gallstone Size and Delayed Cholecystectomy Increase the Risk of Recurrent Pancreatobiliary Complications After Resolved Acute Biliary Pancreatitis.

INTRODUCTION: Acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP) is a severe complication of gallstone disease with considerable mortality, and its recurrence rate is reported as 50-90% for ABP patients who do not undergo cholecystectomy. However, the incidence of and risk factors for recurrent pancreatobiliary complications after the initial improvement of ABP are not well established in the literature. The aims of this study were to determine the risk factors for recurrent pancreatobiliary complications and to compare the outcomes between early (within 2 weeks after onset of pancreatitis) and delayed cholecystectomy in patients with ABP. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ABP at Yeungnam University Hospital from January 2004 to July 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The following risk factors for recurrent pancreatobiliary complications (acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis, and acute cholangitis) were analyzed: demographic characteristics, laboratory data, size and number of gallstones, severity of pancreatitis, endoscopic sphincterotomy, and timing of cholecystectomy. Patients were categorized into two groups: patients with recurrent pancreatobiliary complications (Group A) and patients without pancreatobiliary complications (Group B). RESULTS: Of the total 290 patients with ABP (age 66.8 ± 16.0 years, male 47.9%), 56 (19.3%) patients developed recurrent pancreatobiliary complications, of which 35 cases were acute pancreatitis, 11 cases were acute cholecystitis, and 10 cases were acute cholangitis. Endoscopic sphincterotomy and cholecystectomy were performed in 134 (46.2%) patients and 95 (32.8%) patients, respectively. Age, sex, BMI, diabetes, number of stone, severity of pancreatitis, and laboratory data were not significantly correlated with recurrent pancreatobiliary complications. The risk of recurrent pancreatobiliary complications was significantly increased in the delayed cholecystectomy group compared with the early cholecystectomy group (45.5 vs. 5.0%, p < 0.001). Based on the multivariate logistic regression analyses, two factors, size of gallstone less than or equal to 5 mm and delayed cholecystectomy, were found as risk factors associated with recurrent pancreatobiliary complications. CONCLUSION: The incidence of recurrent pancreatobiliary complications was 19.3% and was significantly increased in patients with size of gallstone less than or equal to 5 mm and in those who underwent delayed cholecystectomy.

[Etiology of "difficult" laparoscopic cholecystectomy].

AIM: To define causes of difficult situations in various forms of acute cholecystitis depending on terms of disease and clinico-morphological changes in gall bladder area and to justify differentiated application of laparoscopic surgery for acute cholecystitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was reviewed 1132 medical records of patients with acute cholecystitis. It is found that morphological changes in gall bladder and surrounding tissues depend on duration of follow-up of patients with acute cholecystitis and type of inflammation. RESULTS: In acute catarrhal cholecystitis "complicated" intraoperative situations are observed in 37.5% due to "loose" tissues infiltration, in phlegmonous and gangrenous forms of inflammation - in 44.6% and 63.6% respectively due to "dense" infiltrates development. CONCLUSION: Technical variants of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for various "difficult" intraoperative situations are suggested.

[Effect of Electroacupuncture at "Yanglingquan" (GB 34) Acupoint on White Blood Cell Count and Gallbladder Wall Thickness in Rabbits with Acute Cholecystitis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Yanglingquan"(GB 34) acupoint on white blood cell (WBC) count and gallbladder wall thickness in rabbits with acute cholecystitis, so as to explore the inherent correlation between the gallbladder and GB 34 acupoint according to the theory of Chinese medicine. METHODS: Thirty-two male rabbits were randomly and equally divided into control group, model group, EA "Yanglingquan"(GB 34) group (EA-GB 34) and EA "Yinlingquan"(SP 9) group (EA-SP 9). The acute cholecystitis model was induced by intra-gallbladder injection of escherichia coli liquid. EA stimulation was delivered once per day for consecutive 7 days. WBC count and gallbladder wall thickness were measured to assess the effects of EA treatment. HE staining was carried out to examine the pathological changes of the gallbladder tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the control group,WBC count and gallbladder wall thickness of the model group were significantly increased (P<0. 05), and those changes were reversed by EA intervention at either GB 34 or SP 9 acupoints (P<0. 05). As to WBC count, there was no significant difference between EA-GB 34 and EA-SP 9 groups (P>0. 05), whereas for reducing gallbladder wall thickness, EA stimulation at GB 34 acupoint resulted in a better effect than that of EA at SP 9 acupoint (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: EA produces positive therapeutic benefits on acute cholecystitis in rabbits. It seems that stimulation at "Yan - glingquan" acupoint gives rise to a better effect than that of "Yinlingquan" acupoint in particular for the reduction of gallbladder wall thickhess.

[Application of principles of "fast track" surgery in treatment of calculous cholecystitis].

The "fast track" concept in surgery provides rapid rehabilitation of postoperative patients, using the operative trauma reduction, adequate anesthesia--for reduction of the organism stress answer on surgical intervention. Results of treatment were analyzed in 118 patients, in whom for calculous cholecystitis the one-port transumbilical laparoscopic cholecystectomy (OPTLCH) was performed. Duration of the patients stationary treatment without abdominal cavity drainage have constituted at average (1.49 ± 0.05) days, after drainage--2.22 days. Intensity of the pain impulsation, which was determined in accordance to concentration of proinflammatory cytokins, including interleukin-1 (IL-1) and a tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) after standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCH) was in 1.2 times higher, than after OPTLCH. In subjective estimation of the pain intensity in accordance to visual analogous scale in patients after OPTLCH have constituted (3.42 ± 0.16) cm, and after a standard one--(5.98 ± 0.19) cm (p < 0.05).

Clinical efficacy of intravenous doripenem in patients with acute biliary tract infection: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial with imipenem/cilastatin as comparator.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous doripenem (DRPM) in patients with biliary tract infection requiring biliary drainage in comparison with imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CS). METHODS: After the initial collection of bile, patients were randomly assigned by the registration system of the Clinical Research Organization to receive intravenous drip infusion of DRPM 0.5 g or IPM/CS 0.5 g three times daily in a randomized, open-label manner. RESULTS: A total of 127 patients were enrolled in the trial (DRPM 62, IPM/CS 65). The characteristics of the 122 patients evaluated for efficacy were well balanced, except for the percentage of patients previously receiving antimicrobials, which was higher in the DRPM group than in the IPM/CS group. The clinical response rate was not significantly different between the DRPM group (93.1 %, 54/58 patients) and the IPM/CS group (93.8 %, 60/64). Non-inferiority assessment using confidence intervals demonstrated the non-inferiority of DRPM-IPM/CS. The incidence of adverse events, for which a causal relationship with either treatment was not ruled out, was 3.3 % (2/60) in the DRPM group and 3.1 % (2/65) in the IPM/CS group, and none was serious. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of DRPM in treating moderate or severe biliary tract infection requiring drainage was comparable to that of IPM/CS. DRPM was associated with no serious adverse events and a low incidence of adverse events. The results of this trial demonstrate that DRPM is a useful therapeutic option for moderate or severe biliary tract infection.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy in acute cholecystitis.

Hepatobiliary scintigraphy is a mature imaging technique for evaluation of patients with acute cholecystitis (AC). It is effective in calculous and acalculous forms of AC. The test is used in contemporary medical practice as the arbiter when the findings from screening abdominal ultrasound do not fit a clinical picture. It is also performed in severely ill patients who have AC suspected on other testing, but whose frail condition and high operative risk demand the highest level of certainty. This review, therefore, examines all technique variations of hepatobiliary scintigraphy, offering an approach that may best fit a variety of clinical situations and philosophies on AC.

Gallbladder motility disorders estimated by non-invasive methods.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim is to compare the radionuclide (DC) and ultrasonographic (US) method in the assessment of gallbladder (GB) motility. METHODOLOGY: The study was performed in 15 controls (C), 10 patients with acute cholecystitis (AC), 20 patients with chronic acalculous cholecystitis (CAC), 26 patients with chronic cholecystitis with calculosis (CCC) as well as in 15 patients with GB dyskinesia (D). GB emptying period (EP), ejection fraction (EF) and ejection rate (ER) were estimated with dynamic cholescintigraphy (DC) and US. RESULTS: The DC and US finding in the patients with AC was typical in all the patients, i.e. GB was not visualized at all on DC, while on US, stone was visible in the cystic duct. There were significant differences (p<0.05) between the EF and ER values obtained between C and the three groups of patients CAC, CCC and D, using both methods. However, there were no significant differences in EF, EP and ER values among CAC, CCC and D (p>0.05). There was also high correlation between the results obtained with both methods in all the groups of patients studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained by both methods are valuable for the assessment of GB motility. Although there are no significant differences and there is a high correlation between the values, radionuclide method is more precise, because it can register motility continuously.

[Changes of oxidative homeostasis in acute experimental cholecystitis].

Variations of the indices of endogenous intoxication, lipid peroxidation, oxidative modification of proteins, and antioxidant system operation have been studied in animals with acute experimental cholecystitis. The possibility and effectiveness of using succinate-containing drugs reamberin and mexidol for the correction of these impairments has been assessed. In the present study, reamberin effectively reduced the intensity of lipid peroxidation and protein modification in experimental animals.

Acute cholecystits leading to ischemic ECG changes in a patient with no underlying cardiac disease.

Although chest pain with ST-segment elevation is often indicative of cardiac ischemia, it has also been described with surgical conditions such as acute cholecystitis. We report the case of a 34-year-old Caucasian female who was referred with symptoms consistent with acute cholecystitis. An electrocardiogram (ECG) showed unexpected changes with inferolateral ST-segment elevation indicative of an inferolateral myocardial infarct. Further investigations and analysis of the results along with the clinical picture meant an acute cardiac event was excluded. Gallstones were seen on ultrasound and an inflamed gallbladder, consistent with acute cholecystitis, was confirmed at laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This led to the resolution of her symptoms and a return to the isoelectric baseline of the ST segments on the ECG. Five previous cases of cholecystitis induced ECG changes have been described in the literature. This case describes the youngest patient with no previous cardiac disease. We review the literature and suggest the pathophysiological mechanism to explain these findings. When the initial diagnostic interventions for chest pain with ST-segment elevation do not yield the expected results, an alternative diagnosis such as cholecystitis should be considered.