Cases Of Acute Cholecystitis Research Articles

A Young Man with Chest Pain

Acalculous cholecystitis is a life-threatening diagnosis that is more commonly associated with ill patients in the ICU. We present a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis (ACC) in an otherwise healthy 18-year-old man who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with right-sided chest pain that was ultimately diagnosed with point of care ultrasound (POCUS). This case demonstrates the importance of conducting a thorough history and physical as well as the importance of POCUS to aid in clinical decision making and its value in diagnosing acute biliary pathology in the ED.

HPB SO30 - Evaluation of efficiency of Co-amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment for grade II/ III acute cholecystitis

Abstract Background Acute cholecystitis is associated with considerable mortality. The risk of mortality ranges between 2.4% to 8.4% according to severity. The main line of managing patient presenting with grade II/ III acute cholecystitis is source control through insertion of cholecystostomy drain (if patient is not suitable for emergency cholecystectomy) and anti-microbial treatment. Tokyo 2018 guidelines recommends against use of Co-Amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial therapy for cases of acute cholecystitis as most common organism isolated is E. Coli. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency of Co-amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment for grade II/ III acute cholecystitis. Method The medical records were searched retrospectively for patient presented with acute severe cholecystitis grade II/ III who treated with cholecystostomy drain insertion as a temporary measure during 2020 and 2021. The culture and sensitivity (C&S) of cholecystostomy drain aspirate at time of insertion of the drains were reviewed to determine the type of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The results were analysed using both best and worst case scenario to find about the efficacy of Co-Amoxiclav as an empiric antimicrobial treatment. Results 105 sample of cholecystostomy drain aspirate sent for culture and sensitivity, 27 samples were resistant to co-amoxiclav (25%), while 22 samples were sensitive to co-amoxiclav(20.9%) . 56 of samples (53.1%) showed no mention of testing of Co-Amoxiclav. On further analysis on best case scenario basis, the sensitivity to co-amoxiclav will be 74% considering all the 56 non-tested samples are sensitive to co-amoxiclav. While on worst case scenario, the sensitivity to co-amoxiclav will be 74% considering all the 56 non-tested samples are resistant to co-amoxiclav. Conclusion Use of co-amoxiclav as an empirical antimicrobial treatment for cases of grade II/ III acute cholecystitis is associated with considerable antimicrobial resistance ranges from 25% in the best case scenario and 79% in worst case scenario. The most common organism isolated from these samples was E.coli. These results are in complete agreement with Tokyo 2018 guidelines, which states that Co-amoxiclav is associated with more than 20% resistance.

The submerged part of acute acalculous cholecystitis in adults: Case report.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is one of the clinical entities widely known to be potentially detrimental and whose difficulty in identification may be only the "tip of the iceberg" of its true state of management embarrassment. Indeed, this condition is at the same time more frequent in the group of elderly and comorbid patients, famous for being a perplexing diagnosis and especially of fulminant evolution. For these reasons, it is essential that clinicians are aware of this occurrence, emphasizing that diagnostic and therapeutic delay can lead to adverse outcomes. In this sense, we present a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis where the initial diagnosis was missed despite appropriate investigation methods and ultimately led to biliary peritonitis. We hope that this report will serve as a reminder of how positive patient outcomes warrant a high index of suspicion for the condition and the importance of designing a rapid management pathway.

Assessment of Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Management of Acute Calcular Cholecystitis

Abstract Background Acute cholecystitis is one of the most significant diseases in the Western world and has a high socioeconomic impact. Mainly, patients with gallstones and older adults are affected. The main complication of acute cholecystitis is recurrent biliary colic and cholestasis. The latter may lead to ascending cholangitis, and while this can be managed with antibiotics, other complications cannot be cured conservatively such as gangrenous changes, gall bladder perforation and biliary leakage, and acute necrotic gallstone pancreatitis. Liver abscesses and underlying incidental carcinoma have also been reported in some cases. Aim of the Work The purpose of this study is to focus on success rate of early laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a management of acute calcular cholecystitis along with its operative and post- operative outcomes. Patients and Methods This is a prospective cohort study conducted on forty (40) patients presenting to Ain-Shams University hospitals and authorized hospitals presented with acute calcular cholecystitis starting from January 2021 and December 2021. Results Our study demonstrates that in terms of morbidity and mortality, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible and cost-effective for cases of acute cholecystitis. The outcome of the patients in our study provides further evidence that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed within the first 72 hours of symptoms with no significant increase in length of operation. Moreover, there was no significant increase in the rate of major intra operative or post operative complications such as bleeding, bile duct injury, bowel injury, wound infection and conversion to open cholecystectomy. The major advantage of early cholecystectomy was that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy allows significantly shorter total hospital stay and reduction in days away from work. Moreover, it avoids repeated admissions for recurrent symptoms. Conclusion Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe, feasible and cost-effective for cases of acute cholecystitis and its major advantage is that it allows significantly shorter total hospital stay and reduction in days away from work and avoids repeated admissions for recurrent symptoms.

ACUTE ACALCULOUS CHOLECYSTITIS RELATED TO HEPATITIS A VIRUS: REPORT OF 3 CASES.

Hepatitis A virus commonly affects children in developing countries. Usually, it presents as an asymptomatic infection or a self-limited acute hepatitis. We report 3 rare pediatric cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis associated with to hepatitis A virus. Conservative treatment was successful, with complete clinical, analytical and imaging remission.

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography in acute cholecystitis: Is it necessary for patients with normal common bile duct diameter?

AbstractAimInvestigating concurrent choledocholithiasis in patients with acute cholecystitis (AC) and normal common bile duct (CBD) diameter on ultrasound by performing magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) can be challenging. This study aims to determine the conditions that necessitate MRCP before surgery and its potential impact on the course of treatment for these patients.Patients and methodsWe included 100 patients with AC and normal CBD diameter who were admitted to Shahid Modarres Hospital from September 2019 to September 2022. Patients with elevated levels of any liver serum markers above the upper limit of normal underwent MRCP.ResultsThe MRCP results were positive in 45.16% of cases and altered the type of treatment in 35.48% of them. The findings indicated that direct [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.782; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.597–0.909] and total bilirubin (AUC = 0.697; 95% CI 0.507–0.849) were significantly effective in predicting the positive findings for concurrent CBD stone or Mirizzi's syndrome on MRCP. The optimal cutoff values for direct and total bilirubin were found to be above 1.02 and 2.19 mg/dL. Concerning the alteration of treatment approaches, direct bilirubin demonstrated predictive value (P = .014) at levels above 1.02 mg/dL.ConclusionsIn cases of AC with a normal CBD diameter on ultrasound and mild elevations in liver function parameters, including total and direct bilirubin, it is not routinely necessary to perform MRCP. However, if these laboratory values exceed a certain threshold, MRCP is recommended as it may reveal alternative diagnoses that could alter the clinical management.

Sestamibi as an alternative to mebrofenin for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis: An alternative option during supply chain disruption

PurposeTo determine the accuracy of Tc-99 m sestamibi for the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis during a supply chain disruption of mebrofenin. Material and methodsDuring a national shortage of Tc-99 m mebrofenin in 2019, our institution initiated sestamibi imaging for suspected cases of acute cholecystitis using a standard hepatobiliary imaging protocol. Forty-one patients underwent hepatobiliary imaging with sestamibi, 39 to assess for acute cholecystitis. The examinations were initially interpreted by one nuclear medicine physician and subsequently overread by 5 blinded nuclear medicine physicians (8–30 years’ experience). SPECT/CT was obtained for 8 of these patients at the discretion of the primary interpreter. An additional 23 asymptomatic patients (6 with prior cholecystectomy) underwent abdominal scintigraphy as a negative control to determine the normal time to sestamibi accumulation in the gallbladder. A composite reference standard was used (chart review by 3 physicians). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values were calculated with and without SPECT/CT (mean ± 95%CI). ResultsOf 39 symptomatic patients, 17/39 had acute cholecystitis and 22 did not. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for acute cholecystitis at planar imaging were 97.6 ± 4.6, 62.7 ± 5.2, 67.0 ± 3.6, and 97.3 ± 5.2 % (N = 39). The values changed to 95.7 ± 4.7, 77.9 ± 4.7, 72.1 ± 4.1, and 97.0 ± 3.3 % when control patients were included (N = 62). With SPECT/CT, these mildly improved to 98.8 ± 2.3 %, 69.1 ± 4.4 %, 71.3 ± 3.2 %, and 98.7 ± 2.6 % (N = 39), but not significantly different. On average, sestamibi activity was detected in the gallbladder in negative controls within 1 h. ConclusionTc-99 m sestamibi has excellent sensitivity and NPV for diagnosing acute cholecystitis and can serve as an alternative when mebrofenin is unavailable for evaluating cystic duct obstruction during shortages of standard agents.

An unusual case of acute cholecystitis complicated by haemobilia and Mirizzi-like obstruction: A case report and review of literature

Introduction: Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture presents a rare yet potentially fatal aetiology for upper GI bleed. While uncommon, its incidence has been rising with increased hepatobiliary surgical interventions, predominantly attributed to iatrogenic injury and rarely secondary to acute cholecystitis. Clinical manifestations typically include epigastric pain, upper GI haemorrhage, and obstructive jaundice. Due to its rarity, it is often excluded from initial differential diagnoses. Case report: This is an unusual case of a 54-year-old male who presented with acute cholecystitis complicated by haemobilia and Mirizzi-like obstruction, in the setting of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture. Initially, urgent transcatheter angiographic embolization of the cystic artery was performed to achieve hemodynamic stability. However, a triphasic CT scan revealed the first attempt was unsuccessful, necessitating a second embolization. Subsequent imaging confirmed satisfactory embolization; however, a small area of liver necrosis was observed adjacent to the gallbladder. The patient was stable at discharge from the hospital and had an uncomplicated interval cholecystectomy. Discussion: This case highlights the complexity and challenges associated with diagnosing and managing cystic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture. Diagnosis often relies on arterial phase contrast-enhanced CT scan. While no guideline currently exist, management typically involves achieving hemodynamic stability through Transcatheter angiographic embolization, followed by interval cholecystectomy. Conclusion: Early recognition and intervention are crucial in managing cystic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture to prevent life-threatening haemorrhagic shock. Clinicians need to consider this rare condition in patients with upper GI bleeding and abnormal LFTs.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy in acute complicated versus uncomplicated cholecystitis; is there a difference in outcomes? A single-center experience.

Percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is a therapeutic intervention for acute cholecystitis. The benefits of cholecystostomy have been demonstrated in the medical literature, with up to 90% of acute cholecystitis cases shown to resolve postoperatively, and only 40% of patients subsequently undergoing an interval cholecystectomy. To compare the survival outcomes between acute complicated and uncomplicated cholecystitis in patients undergoing PC as an initial intervention, as there is a paucity of evidence in the literature on this perspective. A retrospective search was conducted of all patients who underwent PC for acute cholecystitis between August 2016 and December 2020 at a tertiary institution. A total of 100 patients were included in this study. The outcome, in the form of 30-day mortality, 90-day mortality, being alive after six months, and reintervention, was compared between complicated and uncomplicated cases using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the compared outcomes. The only variable that showed a statistically significant association with the risk of mortality was acute kidney injury (AKI) at admission. Patients who had stage 1, 2, or 3 AKI had a higher hazard for mortality as compared to patients with no kidney disease. Our results demonstrate that PC is a safe and effective procedure. Mortality is not affected by the presence of complications. The results have, however, highlighted the importance of recognizing and treating AKI, an independent risk factor affecting mortality.

Acalculous Cholecystitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) represents cholecystitis without gallstones, occurring in approximately 5-10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis in adults. Several risk factors have been recognized, while infectious diseases can be a cause of cholecystitis in otherwise healthy people. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread worldwide, leading to an unprecedented pandemic. The virus enters cells through the binding of the spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors expressed in many human tissues, including the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and this explains the symptoms emanating from the digestive system. Acute cholecystitis has been reported in patients with COVID-19. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed analysis of the current literature on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of AAC in patients with COVID-19.

Role of advanced endoscopy in the management of inflammatory digestive diseases (pancreas and biliary tract).

The progress of endoscopic diagnosis and treatment for inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract and pancreas have been remarkable. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and EUS-elastography are used for the diagnosis of early chronic pancreatitis and evaluation of endocrine and exocrine function in chronic pancreatitis. Notably, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and electrohydraulic shock wave lithotripsy have improved the endoscopic stone removal rate in patients for whom pancreatic stone removal is difficult. Studies have reported the use of self-expanding metal stents for stent placement for pancreatic duct stenosis and EUS-guided pancreatic drainage for refractory pancreatic duct strictures. Furthermore, EUS-guided drainage using a double-pigtailed plastic stent has been performed for the management of symptomatic pancreatic fluid collection after acute pancreatitis. Recently, lumen-apposing metal stents have led to advances in the treatment of walled-off necrosis after acute pancreatitis. EUS-guided biliary drainage is an alternative to refractory endoscopic biliary drainage and percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage for the treatment of acute cholangitis. The placement of an inside stent followed by switching to uncovered self-expanding metal stents in difficult-to-treat cases has been proposed for acute cholangitis by malignant biliary obstruction. Endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage is an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage for severe and some cases of moderate acute cholecystitis. EUS-guided gallbladder drainage has been reported as an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and endoscopic transpapillary gallbladder drainage. However, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each drainage method and select the optimal drainage method for each case.

Medical Therapies to Conquer Surgical Diseases: Gallstone Disease May Be the Next Frontier.

Over the past half century, diseases that were predominantly treated surgically have transitioned to less invasive medical therapies. Such diseases that are now effectively treated with medicine are (1) peptic ulcer disease (PUD), (2) coronary artery disease (CAD), and (3) gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Likewise, gallstone disease may soon follow this trend. Currently, the gold standard treatment of symptomatic gallstones is laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Though one of the most common surgeries in the United States, certain cases of acute and gangrenous cholecystitis can be some of the most difficult surgeries to perform. Advancements in neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) inhibitor medical therapies will alter gallstone disease management and the mainstream role of surgical interventions. This focus on less invasive therapies will greatly impact the quality of patient care, financial obligations, and even resident training opportunities.

EGS P16 Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis versus diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis: comparative time of admission to theatre and impact on reaching national guidance

Abstract Background Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis reduces intra-operative complications. National AUGIS guidelines therefore propose laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed within 72 hours of diagnosis. Locally, laparoscopic cholecystectomies for acute cholecystitis are preferentially performed within Emergency General Surgery (EGS) theatres whilst diagnostic laparoscopies for suspected appendicitis within CEPOD. Access to EGS is anecdotally challenging when compared with CEPOD. Patients with acute cholecystitis may subsequently experience longer times from admission to theatre. This project aimed to compare patient timelines from admission/booking to theatre and evaluate the impact on reaching national AUGIS guidance, intra-operative findings and intra-operative drain insertions. Methods Retrospective analysis of patient records at a single tertiary centre was performed. All patients that underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for imaging-confirmed acute cholecystitis (n=66) alongside patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy +/- appendicectomy for suspected acute appendicitis (February-June 2022) (n = 62) were included. Time from admission/booking to theatre was determined and independent t-tests performed for statistical comparison. Associations between prolonged waiting times (>72 hours) and severity of intra-operative findings (Parkland scores) (ordinal regression analysis) / intra-operative drain insertion (Chi squared analysis) were analysed. Results Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies waited significantly longer from both admission to theatre and booking to theatre compared to patients undergoing diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis (71.4 hours vs. 33.33 hours, mean difference 38.07 hours, p=<0.001; 26.93 hours vs. 15.57 hours, mean difference 11.36 hours, p=0.002;). 63.6% of laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed within 72 hours of admission. Waiting over 72 hours for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was not associated with increased severity of intra-operative findings (higher Parkland scores) (estimate 0.40, p=0.519) or drain insertion (Chi-squared 0.886a, p=0.347). Mean age 57.2 years (range 19-93) and 36.3 (range 8-86) for cholecystectomy versus diagnostic laparoscopy, respectively. Conclusions Patients awaiting laparoscopic cholecystectomy experience significantly longer waiting times from admission and booking to theatre when compared to those awaiting diagnostic laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis. Local concordance with national AUGIS guidance is variable and a proportion of patients with acute cholecystitis wait beyond 72 hours for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Waiting >72 hours within this tertiary centre is not, however, reflected by intra-operative findings or intra-operative drain insertion. Completion of laparoscopic cholecystectomies within CEPOD should be considered for cases of acute cholecystitis to minimise wait times.

A Case of Acute Cholecystitis Successfully Treated With Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage in a Patient With Osteogenesis Imperfecta

A Case of Acute Cholecystitis Successfully Treated With Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Gallbladder Drainage in a Patient With Osteogenesis Imperfecta

COVID-19 presenting as Acute abdomen- a study of 3 cases

COVID-19 is a multisystem disease and sometimes patient can present with life threatening extra-pulmonary manifestations. Amongst GI symptoms nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are common. Severe hepatobiliary manifestations like acute pancreatitis, acute hepatitis and cholecystitis are rare in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this case series we described three cases presented with hepatobiliary manifestations. All of them had acute abdominal pain and finally proven to be the case of acute pancreatitis and acalculous cholecystitis in addition to classical COVID- 19 symptoms. Two of them had severe symptoms and required high volume of oxygen, while one case (acalculous cholecystitis) had mild symptom only. All of them recovered successfully. High degree of clinical suspicion is required while managing atypical presentation of COVID-19 cases. This is also vital to refer the cases to advance care hospitals in time to ensure multidisciplinary care. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2023; 41(4): 320-324

Acute cholecystitis with sepsis due to Edwardsiella tarda: a case report

BackgroundEdwardsiella tarda (E. tarda) is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobe belonging to Enterobacteriales and is commonly isolated from fishes and reptiles. Infection due to E. tarda is uncommon among humans, with a reported human retention rate of 0.001%. It can cause sepsis in the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions such as liver failure, autoimmune disease, or malignancy. E. tarda is susceptible to many antibiotics; however, a high mortality rate (approximately 40%) has been reported with sepsis.Case presentationA 65-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a chief complaint of fever and abdominal pain for 2 days. Her blood tests showed elevated inflammatory markers, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed distention and wall thickening of the gallbladder and inflammation of peri-gallbladder fat. Subsequently, a diagnosis of cholecystitis with systemic inflammatory response syndrome was made. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed after starting antimicrobial therapy. Blood culture of samples obtained on admission were positive for E. tarda, which was also detected in bile juice culture. Therefore, she was diagnosed with bacteremia caused by E. tarda, and postoperative antimicrobial therapy was continued. The patient improved, and there were no complications.ConclusionsWe experienced an extremely rare case of acute cholecystitis caused by E. tarda. Only a few cases of acute cholecystitis due to E. tarda have been reported. Furthermore, similar to this case, no previous study has reported the detection of E. tarda in both blood and bile cultures in acute cholecystitis cases. In addition to appropriate surgical intervention, continuous administration of antibiotics based on culture results resulted in a favorable outcome.

Percutaneous Cholecystostomy to Manage a Hot Gallbladder: A Single Center Experience.

Objective A percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) is a suitable option for treating acutely inflamed gallbladders. Its use has been postulated before for treating acute cholecystitis (AC), especially in elderly populations. The primary aim of our study is to analyze and present the positive results of PC as a bridge to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods All patients who underwent PC at our hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, GBR, from October 2020were reviewed using a retrospective approach. Results Our study comprises 123 patients, with 72 females (58.5%) and 51 males (41.4%). In our study, many patients had significant comorbidities, and some of them were categorized as high-risk due to their frailty and medical conditions. The majority of the patients were in American Society of Anaesthesiologists' (ASA) groups II and III (45, 61), respectively. Though hospital stays can depend on variable factors, in our experience, the mean hospital length ofstay was 12.7 days. In our study, 119 patients (96.8%) had the procedure through the interventional radiological approach, while only four patients had it through the laparoscopic approach. The transhepatic route for drainage was more commonly practiced at our center and was used in 108 patients. At the time of writing this article, 54 patients have already had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) done as an interval procedure after surpassing the acute attack of cholecystitis, while 42 patients are still awaiting their surgical procedure. Conclusion Our results show that PC is a viable option, especially in cases of AC that are not responding to conservative treatments. Our study has shown low complications and conversion rates after PC. We believe PC is a safe and effective tool for managing severe and refractory cases of AC.

A case of acalculous cholecystitis or Brucella-induced acute cholecystitis?

Brucella spp. is a microorganism that can cause febrile, systemic infection, especially in endemic areas. Although it causes a multisystemic involvement and creates various clinical symptoms, osteoarticular symptoms are the most common. However, Brucella spp. is known to be a great mimic and can cause rare, atypical presentations. In this case report, we aimed to present a 67-year-old Turkish female patient diagnosed with stony cholecystitis due to Brucella spp. Although rare, brucellosis can be encountered as a cause of acute cholecyst. Although there are changes in the epidemiology of brucellosis, it is useful to keep in mind brucellosis in the differential diagnosis of many diseases, in endemic areas, especially in rural areas.

849 Quality Improvement in the Service Delivery of Early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) for Acute Cholecystitis (AC)

Abstract Aim Acute gallstone disease comprises 30-40% of emergency general surgery workload. Delayed cholecystectomy is related to increased readmissions, biliary complications, and costs. BSG, AUGIS and NICE guideline advocate early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC). The aim of this Quality Improvement (QI) project is to establish an early LC service in a tertiary hospital in central London, based on national QI Collaborative led by Royal College of Surgeons (RCS). The objectives are assessing existing management, developing strategies, and measuring outcome. Method The management was evaluated including surgeons’ preferences and operating barriers. Strategies were developed through process mapping and stakeholder engagements. Following the implementation, admissions including time to surgery, and reasons for non-compliance, were recorded. The intervention period was set in 4 phases between September 2019 and November 2020: Plan, Improve, Pause and Restart. The sustainability of change was monitored between January 2021 and October 2022. Results 282 AC cases were admitted during intervention period and 68% (194) were fit and consented for surgery. The rate of early LC within 8 days increased from 11% to 61%. During the “pause” phase, the intervention was stopped, and early LC rate dropped to zero, demonstrating the importance of continuous application of strategy. The sustainability was shown during the monitoring period; 343 cases were admitted, 140 (41%) fit for surgery, 62 had surgery within 8 days (43%), and 77 within 14 days (54%). Conclusions The QI study significantly improved the urgent LC rate and received the RCS prize. Sustainability was demonstrated with continual reviews and adaptations.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of antibiotic prophylaxis versus no antibiotic prophylaxis for acute cholecystectomy

ObjectiveFor acute cholecystitis, the treatment of choice is laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In mild-to-moderate cases, the use of antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of postoperative infectious complications (POICs) lacks evidence regarding its...