Preoperative asymptomatic gallstone surgery might reduce the occurrence of cholangitis and cholecystitis after joint replacement surgeries – case series

Abstract

Introduction: Although total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have nowadays had good outcomes, there remain some concerns, such as complications, during and/or after surgeries. There have been some reports on the postoperative complications of joint arthroplasty. However, to the best of our knowledge, none exist on cholangitis after THA or TKA. Patient concerns: This patients’ agreement was obtained. Diagnosis and interventions: Here is the first kind of case series to show nine cases of cholangitis which required urgent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after THA or TKA in the absence of preoperative abdominal ultrasound between June 2019 and May 2021. Outcomes: One case among 9 cases required open laparotomy for acute cholecystitis. Conclusion: Even 1 case of 9 cases, this study showed the importance of preoperative screening for gallbladder stones in order to evaluate the risk of cholangitis development after joint arthroplasty.