Elsevier

HPB

Volume 21, Issue 7, July 2019, Pages 827-833
HPB

Original article
Predicting a ‘difficult cholecystectomy’ after mild gallstone pancreatitis

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpb.2018.10.015Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background

Cholecystectomy after gallstone pancreatitis may be technically demanding. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for a difficult cholecystectomy after mild pancreatitis.

Methods

This was a prospective study within a randomized controlled trial on the timing of cholecystectomy after mild gallstone pancreatitis. Difficulty of cholecystectomy was scored on a 0 to 10 visual analogue scale (VAS) by the senior attending surgeon. The primary outcome ‘difficult cholecystectomy’ was defined by presence of one or more of the following features: a VAS score ≥ 8, duration of surgery > 75 minutes, conversion or subtotal cholecystectomy.

Results

249 patients were included in the primary analysis. A difficult cholecystectomy occurred in 82 patients (33%). In the ‘same-admission cholecystectomy’ group 29 of 112 cholecystectomies were difficult (26%) versus 49 of 127 patients (39%) who underwent surgery after 2 weeks (p = 0.037). After multivariable analysis, male sex (OR 1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04−3.13; p = 0.037), prior sphincterotomy (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.01−3.16; p = 0.046), and delaying cholecystectomy for at least two weeks (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.04−3.16; p = 0.036) were independent predictors of a difficult cholecystectomy.

Conclusion

Surgeons should anticipate a difficult cholecystectomy after mild gallstone pancreatitis in case of male sex, prior sphincterotomy and delayed cholecystectomy.

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