Can it wait until morning? A comparison of nighttime versus daytime cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis

Background

The urgency of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is under debate. We hypothesized that nighttime cholecystectomy is associated with decreased length of stay.

Methods

Retrospective review of 1,140 patients at 2 large urban referral centers with acute cholecystitis who underwent daytime (7 am to 7 pm) versus nighttime (7 pm to 7 am) cholecystectomy was conducted.

Results

Nighttime cholecystectomy did not affect the overall length of stay (3.7 vs 3.8 days, P = .08) or complication rate (5% vs 7%, P = .5) versus daytime cholecystectomy. Nighttime cholecystectomy was associated with a higher conversion rate to open cholecystectomy (11% vs 6%, P = .008). On multivariable analysis, independent predictors of conversion to open surgery were nighttime cholecystectomy, age, and gangrenous cholecystitis (P = .01). The only predictor of complications was gangrenous cholecystitis (P = .02).

Conclusions

Nighttime cholecystectomy is associated with an increased conversion to open surgery without decrease in length of stay or complications. These findings suggest that laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis should be delayed until normal working hours.     

Emergent cholecystostomy is superior to open cholecystectomy in extremely ill patients with acalculous cholecystitis: a large multicenter outcome study

Background

Morbidity and mortality are very high for critically ill patients who develop acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC). The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in extremely ill patients with AAC treated with percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC), laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), or open cholecystectomy (OC), which were also analyzed together in the LC-plus-OC (LO) group.

Methods

Discharge data from the University HealthSystem Consortium database were accessed using International Classification of Diseases codes. The University HealthSystem Consortium's Clinical Data Base/Resource Manager allows member hospitals to compare patient-level, risk-adjusted outcomes. Multivariate regression models for extremely ill patients undergoing PC or LO for the diagnosis of AAC were created and analyzed.

Results

A total of 1,725 extremely ill patients were diagnosed with AAC between October 2007 and June 2011. Patients undergoing PC (n = 704) compared with the LO group (n = 1,021) showed decreased morbidity (5.0% with PC vs 8.0% with LO, P < .05), fewer intensive care unit admissions (28.1% with PC vs 34.6% with LO, P < .05), decreased length of stay (7 days with PC vs 8 days with LO, P < .05), and lower costs ($40,516 with PC vs $53,011 with LO, P < .05). Although perioperative outcomes of PC compared with LC were statistically similar, PC had lower costs compared with LC ($40,516 vs 51,596, P < .005). Multivariate regression analysis showed that LC (n = 822), compared with OC (n = 199), had lower mortality (odds ratio [OR], .3; 95% confidence interval [CI], .1 to .6), lower morbidity (OR, .4; 95% CI, .2 to .7), reduced intensive care unit admission (OR, .3; 95% CI, .2 to .5), and similar 30-day readmission rates (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, .6 to 1.5). Also, decreased length of stay (7 days with LC vs 8 days with OC) and costs ($51,596 with LC vs $61,407 with OC) were observed, with a 26% conversion rate to an open procedure.

Conclusions

On the basis of this experience, extremely ill patients with AAC have superior outcomes with PC. LC should be performed in patients in whom the risk for conversion is low and in whom medical conditions allow. These results show PC to be a safe and cost-effective bridge treatment strategy with perioperative outcomes superior to those of OC.     

The optimal treatment of patients with mild and moderate acute cholecystitis: time for a revision of the Tokyo Guidelines

Introduction

According to the Tokyo Guidelines, severity of acute cholecystitis is divided into three grades based on the degree of inflammation and the presence of organ dysfunction. These guidelines recommend grade I (mild) acute cholecystitis to be treated with early laparoscopic cholecystectomy and grade II (moderate) acute cholecystitis with delayed cholecystectomy. Yet, several studies have shown that, for acute cholecystitis in general, early cholecystectomy is superior to delayed cholecystectomy in terms of complication rate, duration of hospital stay and costs. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical outcomes of emergency cholecystectomy in patients with grade II acute cholecystitis. Based on our findings, we propose a revision of the Tokyo Guidelines.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study of 589 consecutive patients undergoing emergency cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis in a large teaching hospital between January 2002 and January 2015. Patients were classified according to the severity assessment criteria of the Tokyo Guidelines. Patients with grade I and grade II acute cholecystitis were compared for perioperative outcomes.

Results

Emergency cholecystectomy was performed in 270 patients with grade I acute cholecystitis and 187 patients with grade II acute cholecystitis. There was no difference in conversion rate (6 vs. 6%, p = 0.985) and operating time (60 min [25–255] vs. 70 min [30–255], p = 0.421). Also the perioperative complication rate (7 vs. 9%, p = 0.517), 30-day mortality (1 vs. 1%, p = 0.648) and length of hospital stay (4 days [1–42] vs. 4 days [1–62], p = 0.327) were similar between grade I and grade II acute cholecystitis.

Conclusion

The clinical outcomes of emergency cholecystectomy did not differ between patients with grade I and grade II acute cholecystitis. The findings support a revision of the Tokyo Guidelines with respect to the recommendation of performing emergency cholecystectomy in both grade I and grade II acute cholecystitis.

     

Cholecystostomy offers no survival benefit in patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis and severe sepsis and shock

Background

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is often managed with cholecystectomy or cholecystostomy, but data guiding surgical practice are lacking.

Materials and methods

Longitudinal analysis of the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Patient Discharge Data was performed from 1995–2009. Patients with acute acalculous cholecystitis were identified by International Classification of Diseases 9 code. Cox proportional hazard analysis found predictors of time to death, adjusting for patient demographics, sepsis, shock, frailty, Charlson comorbidity index, length of stay, insurance status, teaching hospital status, and year.

Results

Of 43,341 patients, 63.5% received a cholecystectomy, 2.8% received a cholecystostomy, and 1.2% received both. Overall, 30.4% of patients died, with higher mortality among patients with cholecystostomy (61.7%) or no procedure (42.0%) than cholecystectomy (23.0%). In patients with severe sepsis and shock, there was no difference in survival of patients with cholecystostomy versus no intervention (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13, P = 0.256), although patients with cholecystectomy (with or without prior cholecystostomy) had improved survival (HR 0.29, P < 0.001; HR 0.56, P < 0.001). Results were similar among patients on the ventilator >96 h.

Conclusions

Although cholecystostomy offered no survival benefit for patients with severe sepsis and shock, cholecystectomy offered improved survival compared with patients without surgical management. Cholecystostomy may not benefit the sickest patients in whom cholecystectomy may never be considered.     

Can we consider day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute calculous cholecystitis? Identification of potentially eligible patients

Background

Day-case laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not yet been validated for acute cholecystitis. We sought to identify a subgroup of acute cholecystitis patients having been hospitalized overnight after laparoscopic cholecystectomy but who could have been eligible for day-case surgery.

Methods

We identified patients treated for acute cholecystitis with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our university medical center between May 1, 2010, and May 31, 2012, and who lacked contraindications for day-case surgery. In a second step, we assumed that patients hospitalized for <3 d would have been eligible for day-case surgery. We then compared patients hospitalized for ≤3 d with those hospitalized for >3 d in terms of demographic data, laboratory test results, and surgical procedures.

Results

The study population comprised 86 men and 82 women (median age: 57 y; age range: 18–90 y). Contraindications for day-case surgery were identified preoperatively in 23% of the cases (39 of 168) and intraoperatively in another 23% of the cases. The proportion of patients hospitalized for <3 d was 41% (69 of 168) when considering the intention-to-treat population and 57% (51 of 90) when considering patients with no contraindications to day-case surgery. Forty percent of the patients hospitalized for ≥3 d (16 of 39) suffered from postoperative pain that was poorly controlled by oral analgesics. Abdominal drainage was the only predictive factor for hospitalization <3 d (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.13 [0.02–0.71]; P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Day-case laparoscopic may be feasible in selected patients with mild or moderate acute calculous cholecystitis. Our present results may be of use in designing a study of day-case surgery for acute calculous cholecystitis and related changes in the management of these patients.     

Acalculous cholecystitis in severely burned patients: incidence and predisposing factors

Objective

To investigate the incidence and predisposing factors of acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) in severely burned patients.

Background data

Although some studies report on AAC in critically ill patients, very little is known about AAC after severe burns.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving patients with burns admitted to the burn intensive care unit (BICU) of a university hospital. The patient cohort was divided into two groups (AAC group: burned patients with histological proven acalculous cholecystitis, n = 15; Control group: population of all other burned patients admitted to the BICU, n = 1225). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify predisposing factors for the development of AAC.

Results

Fifteen patients with acalculous cholecystitis were identified in the study period. This represents 1.2% of all significant burns admitted. Comparing the AAC group with the Control population the following patients’ characteristics, therapeutic measures and outcome parameters were significantly different in the univariate analysis: mean age (54.0 years vs. 42.0 years), BMI (28.9 kg/m² vs. 25.6 kg/m²), abbreviated burn severity index (8.3 vs. 6.4), total body surface area burn deep partial thickness (12.0% vs. 6.2%) and full thickness (10.2% vs. 6.8%), concomitant inhalation injury (80.0% vs. 28.9%), sepsis (46.7% vs. 14.9%), catecholamine (100% vs. 30.4%) and antibiotic requirement (100% vs. 58.2%), non-biliary tract operations (4.9 vs. 1.5), BICU length of stay (63.4 days vs. 21.0 days), ventilator days (50.3 vs. 11.9), packed red blood cells (PRBCs) administration (70.0 units vs.13.0 units) and mortality (53.3% vs. 19.7%). In the multivariate analysis however, only age, the number of administered units of PRBCs and the duration of mechanical ventilation turned out to be independent predictors for the occurrence of AAC.

Conclusion

AAC is a rare complication of severely burned patients and may reflect the severity of the patient’s general conditions. Predisposing factors for AAC are advanced age, the need of blood transfusions and prolonged mechanical ventilation. In the presence of these predisposing factors, early monitoring may help to detect AAC earlier and to initiate appropriate intervention.     

Temporal Trends,Practice Patterns,and Treatment Outcomes for Infected Upper Urinary Tract Stones in the United States

Background

The incidence of infected urolithiasis is unknown, and evidence describing the optimal management strategy for obstruction is equivocal.

Objective

To examine the trends of infected urolithiasis in the United States, the practice patterns of competing treatment modalities, and to compare adverse outcomes.

Design, setting, and participants

A weighted estimate of 396 385 adult patients hospitalized with infected urolithiasis was extracted from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1999–2009.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Time trend analysis examined the incidence of infected urolithiasis and associated sepsis, as well as rates of retrograde ureteral catheterization and percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) for urgent/emergent decompression. Propensity-score matching compared the rates of adverse outcomes between approaches.

Results and limitations

Between 1999 and 2009, the incidence of infected urolithiasis in women increased from 15.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 15.3–15.6) to 27.6 (27.4–27.8)/100 000); men increased from 7.8 (7.7–7.9) to 12.1 (12.0–12.3)/100 000. Rates of associated sepsis increased from 6.9% to 8.5% (p = 0.013), and severe sepsis increased from 1.7% to 3.2% (p < 0.001); mortality rates remained stable at 0.25–0.20% (p = 0.150). Among those undergoing immediate decompression, 113 459 (28.6%), PCN utilization decreased from 16.1% to 11.2% (p = 0.001), with significant regional variability. In matched analysis, PCN showed higher rates of sepsis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.63; 95% CI, 1.52–1.74), severe sepsis (OR: 2.28; 95% CI, 2.06–2.52), prolonged length of stay (OR: 3.18; 95% CI, 3.01–3.34), elevated hospital charges (OR: 2.71; 95%CI, 2.57–2.85), and mortality (OR: 3.14; 95%CI, 13–4.63). However, observational data preclude the assessment of timing between outcome and intervention, and disease severity.

Conclusions

Between 1999 and 2009, women were twice as likely to have infected urolithiasis. Rates of associated sepsis and severe sepsis increased, but mortality rates remained stable. Analysis of competing treatment strategies for immediate decompression demonstrates decreasing utilization of PCN, which showed higher rates of adverse outcomes. These findings should be viewed as preliminary and hypothesis generating, demonstrating the pressing need for further study.     

Can surgical performance benchmarking be generalized across multiple outcomes databases: a comparison of University HealthSystem Consortium and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Background

Surgeon's performance is tracked using patient outcomes databases. We compared data on patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 2 large databases with significant institutional overlap to see if either patient characteristics or outcomes were similar enough to accurately compare performance.

Methods

Data from 2009 to 2011 were collected from University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). UHC and NSQIP collect data from over 200 and 400 medical centers, respectively, with an overlap of 70. Patient demographics, pre-existing medical conditions, operative details, and outcomes were compared.

Results

Fifty-six thousand one hundred ninety-seven UHC patients and 56,197 NSQIP patients met criteria. Groups were matched by age, sex, and pre-existing comorbidities. Outcomes for NSQIP and UHC differed, including mortality (.20% NSQIP vs .12% UHC; P < .0001), morbidity (2.0% vs 1.5%; P < .0001), wound infection (.07% vs .33%; P < .0001), pneumonia (.38% vs .75%; P < .0001), urinary tract infections (.62% vs .01%; P < .0001), and length of hospital stay (1.8 ± 7.5 vs 3.8 ± 3.7 days; P = .0004), respectively.

Conclusions

Surgical outcomes are significantly different between databases and resulting performance data may be significantly biased. A single unified national database may be required to correct this problem.     

Understanding pre-enrollment surgical outcomes for hospitals participating in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations

Background

To anticipate the effects of accountable care organizations (ACOs) on surgical care, we examined pre-enrollment utilization, outcomes, and costs of inpatient surgery among hospitals currently enrolled in Medicare ACOs vs nonenrolling facilities.

Methods

Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2007 to 2011), we compared patient and hospital characteristics, distributions of surgical specialty care, and the most common inpatient surgeries performed between ACO-enrolling and nonenrolling hospitals before implementation of Medicare ACOs. We used multivariable regression to compare pre-enrollment inpatient mortality, length of stay (LOS), and costs.

Results

Hospitals now participating in Medicare ACO programs were more frequently nonprofit (P < .001) and teaching institutions (P = .01) that performed more specialty procedures (P < .001). We observed no clinically meaningful pre-enrollment differences for inpatient mortality, prolonged length of stay, or costs for procedures performed at ACO-enrolling vs nonenrolling hospitals.

Conclusions

Medicare ACO hospitals had pre-enrollment outcomes that were similar to nonparticipating facilities. Future studies will determine whether ACO participation yields differential changes in surgical quality or costs.     

Use of a simplified frailty index to predict Clavien 4 complications and mortality after hepatectomy: analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database

Background

An aging surgical population places an increasing burden on surgeons to accurately risk stratify and counsel patients. Preoperative frailty assessments are a promising new modality to better evaluate patients but can often be time consuming. Data regarding frailty and hepatectomy outcomes have not been published to date.

Method

Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database, we examined hepatectomy patients 2005 to 11 and correlated frailty scores with outcomes of major morbidity, mortality, and extended length of stay, using a previously validated modified frailty index score. Frailty was compared against age, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and other common risk variables.

Results

Multivariate regression identified frailty as the strongest predictor of Clavien 4 complications (OR = 40.0, 95% CI = 15.2 to 105.0), and mortality (OR = 26.4, 95% CI = 7.7 to 88.2). As the frailty score increased, there was a statistically significant increase in Clavien 4 complications, mortality, and extended length of stay (P < .001 for all).

Conclusions

Frailty is a significant factor in morbidity and mortality after hepatectomy. Use of the modified frailty index allows for feasibility of data collection in a busy clinical setting.     

A review of the management of gallstone disease and its complications in pregnancy

Background

Symptomatic gallstone disease is the second most common abdominal emergency in pregnant women. There have been significant developments in the management of gallstone disease, but risk to the fetus has prevented their routine application in pregnant women. We reviewed the literature to find the current best evidence for the management of gallstones and its complications in pregnancy.

Data sources

MEDLINE and PubMed literature searches were performed to identify original studies.

Results and Conclusions

Six studies comparing conservative with surgical management of cholecystitis showed no significant difference in incidence of preterm delivery (3.5% vs 6.0%, P = .33) or fetal mortality (2.2% vs 1.2%, P = .57). There was no maternal or fetal mortality in 20 reports of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 9 reports of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, thus indicating their safety when performed with necessary precautions. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe procedure in all trimesters. In 12 reports of gallstone pancreatitis, fetal mortality was 8.0% versus 2.6% (P = .28) in conservative and surgical groups, respectively, suggesting the need for earlier surgical intervention.     

Surgical management of empyematous cholecystitis: a register study of over 12,000 cases from a regional quality control database in Germany

Background

Acute cholecystitis is a common indication for surgery. Surgical outcomes depend among other factors on the extent of gallbladder inflammation. Data on the outcomes of patients undergoing cholecystectomy due to acute empyematous cholecystitis are rare.

Methods

Data from a prospectively maintained quality control database in Germany were analyzed. Cases with empyematous cholecystitis were compared to cases without gallbladder empyema with regard to baseline features, clinical parameters and surgical outcomes.

Results

A total of 12,069 patients with empyematous cholecystitis (EC) were compared to 33,296 patients without empyema. The male gender, advanced age, ASA score >2, elevated white blood count and fever were confirmed as risk factors for EC. The EC group differed significantly from the control group with regard to fever (28.0 vs. 9.5 %), elevated WBC (82.5 vs. 62.3 %) and positive findings from ultrasound sonography (87.4 vs. 76.9 %), p < 0001. Surgery lasted significantly longer in the EC group (86.1 ± 38.5 vs. 72.2 ± 33.6, p < 0.001). The rates of conversion (15.2 vs. 5.8 %), bile duct injury (0.8 vs. 0.4 %), re-intervention (5.5 vs. 2.6 %) and mortality (2.8 vs. 1.2 %) were significantly higher in the EC group, p < 0.001. Similarly, the length of stay (11.9 ± 10.5 vs. 8.8 ± 8.3, p < 0.001) was significantly longer in the EC group.

Conclusion

Empyematous cholecystitis is a severe form of acute cholecystitis with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Even the experienced laparoscopic surgeon should expect dissection difficulties, therefore the threshold for conversion in order to prevent bile duct injury should be low.

     

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia after thermal injury: The clinical impact of methicillin resistance

Objective

To evaluate the impact of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) on mortality and length of stay in burn patients.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

A 750-bed tertiary care university hospital in Cologne, Germany.

Patients

Patients registered in the database of the burn intensive care unit (BICU) between 1989 and 2009 with complete data sets (n = 1688).

Results

Over the 21-year study period, 74 patients with SAB were identified; 33 patients had methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 41 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). Comparing the MRSA with the MSSA population the following parameters were significantly different in the univariate analysis: BMI (27.2 kg/m² vs. 23.6 kg/m²; P = 0.05), extent of deep partial thickness burns (17.8% vs. 9.0% of total body surface area; P = 0.007), antibiotic requirement on admission (45.5% vs. 22.0%; P = 0.046), median length of hospitalization prior SAB (24 days vs. 7 days; P < 0.001), packed red blood cells administration (47.6 units vs. 26.1 units; P = 0.003), intubation requirement (100% vs. 80.5%; P = 0.007), intubation period (43.5 days vs. 26.8 days; P = 0.008), catecholamine requirement (90.9% vs. 61.0%; P = 0.004), sepsis (60.6% vs. 34.1%; P = 0.035) and organ failures (81.8% vs. 39.0%; P < 0.001). Regarding outcome parameters, methicillin resistance was not significantly related with mortality (adjusted OR 1.55, 95% CI 0.56–4.28; P = 0.40) and length of BICU stay after SAB (Kaplan–Meier analysis log-rank test P = 0.32; Cox's proportional hazards regression HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.65–2.27, P = 0.535) in the univariate and multivariate analyses.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that methicillin resistance is not associated with significant increases in mortality and length of BICU stay among burn patients with SAB.     

Effects of additional laparoscopic cholecystectomy on outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy in patients with gastric cancer based on a national administrative database

Background

Little information is available on the effects of adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy to laparoscopic gastrectomy on outcomes of patients with gastric cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy to laparoscopic gastrectomy on outcomes in patients with gastric cancer using a national administrative database.

Methods

A total of 14,006 patients treated with laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer were referred to 744 hospitals in Japan between 2009 and 2011. Patients were divided into two groups, those who also underwent simultaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder stones (n = 1484) and those who underwent laparoscopic gastrectomy alone (n = 12,522). Laparoscopy-related complications, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and medical costs during hospitalization were compared in the patient groups.

Results

Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not affect laparoscopy-related complications (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–1.24; P = 0.788) or in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.49–2.76; P = 0.727). Multiple linear regression analysis also showed that adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not affect the length of stay (unstandardized coefficient, 0.37 d; 95% CI, −0.47 to 1.22 d; P = 0.389). However, adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy was associated with significantly increased medical costs during hospitalization (unstandardized coefficient, $1256.0 (95% CI, $806.2–$1705.9; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that adding laparoscopic cholecystectomy did not affect outcomes of patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer, although medical costs during hospitalization were significantly increased.     

Management of acute mild gallstone pancreatitis under acute care surgery: should patients be admitted to the surgery or medicine service?

Background

We hypothesized that patients with acute mild gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) admitted to surgery (SUR; vs medicine [MED]) had a shorter time to surgery, shorter hospital length of stay (HLOS), and lower costs.

Methods

We performed chart reviews of patients who underwent a cholecystectomy for acute mild GSP from October 1, 2009 to May 31, 2013. We excluded patients with moderate to severe and non-gallstone pancreatitis. We compared outcomes for time to surgery, HLOS, costs, and complications between the 2 groups.

Results

Fifty acute mild GSP patients were admitted to MED and 52 to SUR. MED patients were older and had more comorbidity. SUR patients had a shorter time to surgery (44 vs 80 hours; P < .001), a shorter HLOS (3 vs 5 days; P < .001), and lower hospital costs ($11,492 ± 6,480 vs $16,183 ± 12,145; P = .03). In our subgroup analysis on patients with an American Society of Anesthesiologists score between 1 and 2, the subgroups were well matched; all outcomes still favored SUR patients.

Conclusions

Admitting acute mild GSP patients directly to SUR shortened the time to surgery, shortened HLOS, and lowered hospital costs.     

The fate of unscreened women in colon cancer: impact on staging and prognosis

Background

Several nationwide reports show lower female participation in colon cancer screening. We therefore assessed for outcome differences in women of screening age presenting for surgical treatment of colon cancer patients.

Methods

All patients over 50 years undergoing surgery for first-onset colon cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital (2004 to 2011) were included. Differences between (unscreened) women and the remaining population in presentation characteristics and subsequent morbidity and mortality were assessed.

Results

We included 919 patients (49.1% female). Women were less often diagnosed through screening (26.4 vs 32.7%, P = .036). Unscreened women were at significantly higher risk (all P < .001) for having high-grade tumors (Relative risk [RR] = 1.61), lymph node metastasis (RR = 1.36), and distant metastasis (RR = 2.26) on pathology, leading to higher colon cancer-related mortality (RR = 1.72).

Conclusion

Unscreened women present with more advanced colon cancer and higher mortality, confirming that disparities in screening lead to ever-increasing disparities in outcomes.     

Gender and Age Differences in the Perception of Bother and Health Care Seeking for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Results from the Hospitalised and Outpatients’ Profile and Expectations Study

Background

Few comparisons have been made of health care seeking behaviour for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) between men and women, as well as trends across age groups.

Objective

To investigate the bother from LUTS and effect on health care seeking in both men and women of different age groups and in comparison between the two genders.

Design, setting, and participants

A representative cross section of each of 13 clinics of a general academic hospital, with equal numbers of subjects recruited in each of six design cells that were defined by age (18–40, 41–60, 61–80 yr) and gender.

Intervention

A 2-h in-person interview, conducted by a trained psychologist/interviewer in a clinic office.

Measurements

Severity of LUTS was measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Treatment seeking was measured by a single item. A bother question was modified to assess overall bother. Impact on quality of life (QoL) was measured by the IPSS QoL question.

Results and limitations

The final study sample comprised 415 patients. More women than men reported the presence of LUTS (85.5% vs 75.2%; p = 0.01). LUTS were more bothersome in women (25.4% of women vs 17.6% of men with bother “some” or “a lot”; p = 0.02). Severity of LUTS increased with age in both genders (men: p < 0.001; women: p = 0.03). Bother from LUTS increased as severity of symptoms increased in both genders (p < 0.001) but was associated with age only in men (p < 0.001). QoL showed similar results as bother. Although men and women had equal prevalence of treatment seeking (27.9% vs 23.7%; p = 0.40), men, but not women, were more likely to seek treatment as age (p < 0.01) and severity of LUTS (p < 0.001) increased. In multivariate logistic regressions, only bother from LUTS was associated with treatment seeking in women, compared with bother, age, and the presence of voiding symptoms in men.

Conclusions

In our hospital-based sample, differences in LUTS frequency, bother, and health care seeking profiles between men and women suggest a different perception and response to LUTS between the two genders.     

Primary fascial closure after damage control laparotomy: Sepsis vs haemorrhage

Objective

To compare the outcomes of patients undergoing damage control laparotomy (DCL) for intra-abdominal sepsis vs intra abdominal haemorrhage. We hypothesize that patients undergoing DCL for sepsis will have a higher rate of septic complications and a lower rate of primary fascial closure.

Settings and patients

Retrospective study of patients undergoing DCL from December 2006 to November 2009. Data are presented as medians and percentages where appropriate.

Results

111 patients were identified (55 men), 79 with sepsis and 32 with haemorrhage. There was no difference in age (63 vs 62 years), body mass index (BMI, 27 vs 28), diabetes mellitus (13% vs 9%), or duration of initial operation (125 vs 117 min). Patients with sepsis presented with a lower serum lactate (2.2 vs 4.7 mmol/L, p < 0.01), base deficit (4.0 vs 8.0, p ≤ 0.01) and ASA score (3.0 vs 4.0, p < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in overall morbidity (81% vs 66), mortality (19% vs 22%), intra-abdominal abscess (18% vs 16%), deep wound infection (9% vs 9%), enterocutaneous fistula (ECF) (8% vs 6%) and primary fascial closure (58% vs 59%). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that intra-abdominal abscess (OR 4.26, 95% CI 1.06–19.32), higher base deficit (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00–1.31) and more abdominal explorations (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.23–2.07) were associated with lack of primary fascial closure, but BMI (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94–1.07), ECF (OR 2.02, 95% CI 0.23–19.98), wound infection (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.15–5.27), amount of crystalloids infused within the first 24 h (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99–1.00) and intra-abdominal sepsis (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.35–3.80) were not.

Conclusions

There was an equivalent rate of septic complications and primary fascial closure rates regardless of cause for DCL. Intra-abdominal abscess, worse base deficit and higher number of abdominal explorations were independently associated with the lack of primary fascial closure.     

The association between body mass index and the severity of cholecystitis

Background

Severe cholecystitis occurs more frequently in males, and the cause of this discrepancy is unknown.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed on 910 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystitis. The patients were classified according to body mass index (BMI) as obese (n = 354, BMI ≥25 kg/m²) and nonobese (n = 556; BMI <25).

Results

In males, there was a significant negative correlation between the BMI and the severity of cholecystitis; the proportion of complicated acute cholecystitis was higher in the nonobese patients (21.5%) compared with the obese patients (8.1%) (P = .007) but not for the females (P = .80). A BMI <25 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.92, P = .01), advanced age (OR = 2.52, P < .001), male sex (OR = 1.74, P = .022), and leukocytosis (OR = 1.92, P = .024) were independent predictors for the development of complicated acute cholecystitis.

Conclusion

There is a negative association between BMI and the inflammation severity of cholecystitis in males, which resulted in a higher incidence of severe cholecystitis in the nonobese male patients.     

Emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis revisited

Purpose

To compare the safety of emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) with surgery for acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the perioperative records of 111 patients who underwent emergent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis under the care of the Department of Digestive Surgery, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, between January 2010 and April 2014. Patients were divided into the AAC group (27 patients) and the ACC group (84 patients), and their perioperative outcomes were compared.

Results

Patients in the AAC group had significantly higher disease severity and American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status scores (p = 0.001 and 0.037, respectively), lower blood hemoglobin and albumin concentrations (p = 0.0005 and 0.017, respectively), and lower hematocrit and platelet count (p < 0.0001 and 0.040, respectively) than those in the ACC group. When we compared perioperative outcomes, we also found that patients in the AAC group were more likely to have received a blood transfusion (p = 0.002) and to have required conversion to open surgery (p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in morbidity, mortality or length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe in acute acalculous as well as acute calculous cholecystitis.