The Rationale of sub-hepatic drainage on a specialist biliary unit: a review of 6140 elective and urgent laparoscopic cholecystectomies and bile duct explorations.

BACKGROUND: Drains are used to reduce abdominal collections after procedures where such risk exists. Using abdominal drains after cholecystectomy has been controversial since the open surgery era. Universally accepted indications and agreement exist that routine drainage is unnecessary but the role of selective drainage remains undetermined. This study evaluates the indications and benefits of sub-hepatic drainage in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and bile duct exploration (BDE) in a specialist unit with a large biliary emergency workload. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from 6,140 LCs with a 46.6% emergency workload over 30 years was reviewed. Demographic factors, pre-operative presentations, imaging and operative details in patients with and without drains were compared. Sub-hepatic drains were inserted after all transductal explorations, subtotal cholecystectomies, almost all open conversions and 94% of LC for empyemas. Adverse or beneficial postoperative drain-related outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Abdominal drains were utilised in 3225/6140 (52.5%). Patients were significantly older with more males. 59.4% were emergency admissions. Preoperative imaging showed thick-walled gallbladders in 25.2% and bile duct stones or dilatation in 36.2%. At operation they had cystic duct stones in 19.8%, acute cholecystitis, empyema or mucocele in 28.4% and operative difficulty grades III or higher in 59%. 38% underwent BDE, 5.4% had fundus-first dissection and the operating times were longer ( 80 vs.45 min). Drain related complications were rare; 3 abdominal pains after anaesthetic recovery settling when drains were removed, 2 drain site infections and one re-laparoscopy to retrieve a retracted drain. 55.8% of 43 bile leaks and 35% of 20 other collections in patients with drains resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: The utilisation of drains in this study was relatively high due to the high emergency workload and interest in BDE. While drains allowed early detection of bile leakage, avoiding some complications and monitoring conservative management to allow early reinterventions, the study has identified operative criteria that could potentially limit drain insertion through a selective policy.

The "Basket-in-Catheter" technique: facilitating transcystic bile duct exploration and optimising the management of suspected ductal stones.

The 'Basket-in-Catheter' (BIC) technique facilitates basket-only laparoscopic transcystic exploration (LTCE), increasing its success rate. Using the cholangiography catheter as a sheath is easier and safer than inserting the wire basket-alone. This study evaluates its benefits in confirmed and suspected ductal stones. Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on patients with pre-operative or operative suspicion of bile duct stones or with positive and equivocal intraoperative cholangiographies (IOC) who had LTCE attempted using blind basket trawling, without choledochoscopy, were reviewed. The incidence and outcomes of blind basket LTCEs attempted before and after introducing the BIC technique, whether or not stones were retrieved, were analysed. Blind basket LTCE was attempted in 732 patients. Of 377 (51.5%) patients undergoing successful stone retrieval, only 62% had pre-operative clinical and radiological risk factors for ductal stones, 25% had operative risk factors and 13% had silent stones discovered on IOC. Another 355 patients (48.5%) had negative trawling, although one half had pre-operative risk factors for ductal stones and 47.6% had operative risk factors, e.g. cystic duct stones or dilatation. This cohort had equivocal cholangiography in 25.9%. Following basket trawling, repeat IOC confirmed resolution of abnormalities. As no stones were retrieved, these were not considered duct explorations. The BIC technique facilitates safe and speedy bile duct clearance when stones are confirmed, avoiding choledochotomies, without significant complications. BIC duct trawling is also beneficial in patients with suspected ductal stones, helping to resolve equivocal IOCs. It helps surgeons to acquire and consolidate ductal exploration skills.

Correlation between COVID-19 severity, body mass index and radiological hepatic morphology / Correlación entre la gravedad de COVID-19, el índice de masa corporal y la morfología hepática radiológica

SUMMARY: Obesity and fatty liver steatosis are already considered metabolic risk factors which may aggravate the severity of COVID-19. This study aims to investigate the correlation between COVID-19 severity, obesity, and liver steatosis and fibrosis. 230 consecutive patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 aged between 15 and 84? years, admitted to a hospital devoted to COVID-19 patients, were enrolled in the study. COVID-19 severity was classified as severe versus non-severe based on admission to ICU. Obesity was assessed by Body Mass Index (BMI). CT-scan was used to check for the liver steatosis. Fibrosis-4 score was calculated. The study was conducted in March-May 2020. Obesity strongly and positively correlated with severe COVID-19 illness r: 0.760 (P<0.001). Hepatic steatosis had rather less of a correlation with COVID-19 severity r: 0.365 (P<0.001). Multivariable-adjusted association between hepatic steatosis or obesity, or both (as exposure) and COVID-19 severity (as the outcome) revealed increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness with obesity (Adjusted model I OR: 465.3, 95 % CI: 21.9-9873.3, P<0.001), with hepatic steatosis (Adjusted model I OR: 5.1, 95 % CI: 1.2-21.0, P<0.025), and with hepatic steatosis among obese patients (Adjusted model I OR: 132, 95 % CI: 10.3-1691.8, P<0.001). Obesity remained the most noticeable factor that strongly correlated with COVID-19 severity, more than liver steatosis. However, the risk to COVID-19 severity was greater in those with both factors: obesity and liver steatosis.

RESUMEN: La obesidad y la esteatosis del hígado graso ya se consideran factores de riesgo metabólico que pueden empeorar la gravedad de la COVID-19. Este estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la correlación entre la gravedad de COVID- 19, la obesidad y la esteatosis y fibrosis hepática. El estudio se realizó en 230 pacientes consecutivos entre 15 y 84 años con COVID-19 confirmado por laboratorio, ingresados en un hospital dedicado a pacientes con COVID-19. La gravedad de COVID-19 se clasificó como grave, versus no grave según el ingreso a la UCI. La obesidad se evaluó mediante el índice de masa corporal (IMC). Se utilizó una tomografía computarizada para verificar la esteatosis hepática. Se calculó la puntuación de Fibrosis-4. El estudio se realizó entre marzo-mayo de 2020. La obesidad se correlacionó fuerte y positivamente con la enfermedad grave de COVID-19 r: 0,760 (P <0,001). La esteatosis hepática tuvo una correlación bastante menor con la gravedad de COVID-19 r: 0.365 (P <0.001). La asociación ajustada multivariable entre la esteatosis hepática u obesidad, o ambas (como exposición) y la gravedad de COVID-19 (como resul- tado) reveló un mayor riesgo de enfermedad grave por COVID- 19 con obesidad (OR del modelo ajustado I: 465,3, IC del 95%: 21,9 -9873,3, P <0,001), con esteatosis hepática (OR del modelo I ajustado: 5,1, IC del 95 %: 1,2-21,0, P <0,025) y con esteatosis hepática entre los pacientes obesos (OR del modelo I ajustado: 132, IC del 95 % : 10,3-1691,8, P <0,001). La obesidad siguió siendo el factor más notable que se correlacionó significativamente con la gravedad de COVID-19, más que la esteatosis hepática. Sin embargo, el riesgo de gravedad de COVID-19 fue mayor en aquellos con ambos factores: la obesidad y esteatosis hepática.