Gallbladder Bed Research Articles

Laparoscopic Reoperation for Postoperatively Diagnosed Gallbladder Cancer: Technical Options for Cystic Duct Management.

Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease with poor prognosis, for which surgical resection is considered the only curative treatment.1 The widespread adoption of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for benign biliary diseases has led to an increased incidence of postoperatively diagnosed gallbladder cancer.2-5 Several studies have proposed that tumors exceeding stage T2 require additional resection.3,6,7 However, reoperation for postoperatively diagnosed gallbladder cancer is technically difficult due to inflammatory adhesion or fibrosis around the hepatoduodenal ligament and gallbladder bed.8,9 For such reasons, there are limited evidence regarding the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic reoperation and no clear indications for when to perform minimally invasive surgery. In this multimedia article, we present the laparoscopic reoperation techniques for postoperatively diagnosed gallbladder cancer. We focus specifically on various approaches to surgically manage the cystic duct stump, depending on the length of remnant stump, degree of surrounding fibrosis, and margin status. We represent three cases with different approaches. In the first case, a patient with a long remnant stump is managed with clip ligation and resection of the stump. Second, a patient with a short remnant stump and severe fibrosis is treated with stump excision and suture closure. Lastly, bile duct resection is performed for a patient with margin involvement during the initial operation. Various technical options exist to approach the remnant cystic duct stump during laparoscopic reoperation for postoperatively diagnosed gallbladder cancer.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the gallbladder: a case report

BackgroundPrimary solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) of the gallbladder are rare. Here, we report the case of a patient who underwent surgical treatment for a primary SFT originating in the gallbladder.Case presentationA 48-mm gallbladder tumor was detected in a 70-year-old man using abdominal ultrasonography at a primary hospital, and he was subsequently referred to our department. A 50-mm enhanced tumor in the gallbladder was identified using computed tomography. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a smooth-marginated tumor with hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography confirmed high-level fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the gallbladder tumor in the early phase without increasing uptake in the later phase. Surgical resection was planned to evaluate the tumor diagnosis. Initially, we performed open cholecystectomy with wedge resection of the gallbladder bed. Intraoperative pathological examination suggested gallbladder cancer; therefore, we performed radical surgery, including resection of the common bile duct, extended radical lymphadenectomy, and choledochojejunostomy. Ultimately, the final pathological examination revealed an SFT originating from the gallbladder with a negative surgical margin. Postoperatively, the patient developed bile leakage that was treated with tube drainage. The patient recovered satisfactorily and was discharged on postoperative day 20. At 24 months postoperatively, the patient was in good general condition without recurrence.ConclusionsWe report a rare case of a primary SFT originating in the gallbladder. Clinicians should be aware that SFT can be found in the gallbladder, and when it is difficult to make a preoperative diagnosis, surgical treatment should be considered.

VS 09 - HPB Laparoscopic Trans-Cystic Bile Duct Exploration is Safe and Feasible even after previous Cholecystectomy

Abstract Background Laparoscopic trans-cystic bile duct exploration is well know to have less comorbidity that conventional trans-ductal approach. A 56-year-old female underwent emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 2019 for cholecystitis. Subsequently treated conservatively for ascending cholangitis due to large stone in the bile duct on MRCP. She underwent two unsuccessful ERCPs due to anatomical challenges; large hiatus hernia and duodenal diverticulum. The MDT determined bile duct exploration was necessary as no endoscopic options remained. After assessing previous imaging, laparoscopic trans-cystic exploration was chosen to minimise complications. This video highlights the feasibility of laparoscopic trans-cystic CBD post-cholecystectomy. Method Standard four-port technique with 10mm, 30-degree laparoscope. Blunt, sharp, energised and hydro-dissection were employed. Indocyanaine green(ICG) helped identify the bile duct(CBD) and the cystic duct(CD) stump. CD was dissected from the gallbladder bed and opened for a cholangiogram; confirming a large stone in the distal bile duct. A 3.5 mm choledochoscope with electrohydraulic lithotripsy(EHL) was used to explore the bile duct and fragment the stone for extraction. Remaining small fragments were flushed into the duodenum after 20mg buscopan intravenously. Final cholangioscopy and cholangiogram through the choledochoscope showed clear ducts with good flow into the duodenum. Results The patient was started on IV antibiotics due to pyrexia on the first night of admission. The abdominal drain was removed after 48 hours, and the patient was discharged on day three to complete a five-day course of antibiotics. Nine months post-operatively, she presented with a 3x5x7.5 cm sub-hepatic abscess, requiring interventional radiology (IR) drainage and a six-week course of antibiotics. The drain was removed after a follow-up CT scan three weeks post-drainage showed resolution. There have been no further episodes of cholangitis, and she has returned to her baseline quality of life. Conclusion This case shows laparoscopic trans-cystic approach remains viable post-cholecystectomy. Advanced imaging and tools including 3.5mm choledochoscope and EHL aid safer surgery with reduced morbidity, shorter stays and faster recovery. Antibiotics may be necessary for cases with longstanding bile duct stones. Furthermore, this case highlights the importance of intraoperative cholangiography and bile duct exploration. The patient had an MRCP in 2019 that showed no bile duct stones but a dilated CBD associated with deranged LFTs. This suggests that her journey might have been less complicated if a cholangiogram had been performed during the initial laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

A case of successful conversion surgery for unresectable gallbladder cancer treated with durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin.

We report a rare case of a patient with initially unresectable gallbladder cancer who underwent conversion surgery with durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin and achieved an R0 resection. A 68year-old woman was found to have gallbladder cancer and multiple enlarged lymph nodes around the suprapancreatic rim and hepatic hilum invading the proper hepatic artery on computed tomography. The diagnosis was cT3cN2cM0, cStage IVB. After eight cycles of durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin, all tumor markers became negative, and lymph node invasion of the hepatic artery disappeared. The patient underwent conversion surgery with gallbladder bed resection and regional lymph node dissection. There was no need for hepatic artery reconstruction. Pathology revealed ypT2aypN0ycM0, ypStage IIA, and radical resection was considered. Immunostaining of tissue collected at the time of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition revealed less than 1% programmed death ligand-1 expression. The patient continued adjuvant chemotherapy with single-agent durvalumab every 4weeks and maintained a relapse-free survival of 8months postoperatively. The utility of durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin in unresectable gallbladder cancer independent of programmed death ligand-1 expression has been confirmed and may be an important option in future multimodal treatment, including conversion surgery.

Ideal Local Anesthetic for Intraperitoneal Gallbladder Bed Infiltration Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard operation for symptomatic cholelithiasis; however, pain remains a major factor in increasing morbidity and length of hospital stay. Infiltration of the gallbladder bed with a local anesthetic has been shown to improve postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, although it is unclear which local anesthetic provides superior pain relief. Objective The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of various local anesthetics on postoperative pain when instilled intraperitoneally in the gallbladder bed following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies were randomized into three groups of 30 patients each, depending on the local anesthetic instilled in the gallbladder bed: lignocaine (Group A), bupivacaine (Group B), or a combination of lignocaine and bupivacaine (Group C). Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at two, six, 12, and 24 hours following surgery. Secondary outcomes included vitals, rescue analgesic use, return of bowel function, time to ambulation, and presence of nausea. Results Group C showed the lowest pain scores at all time points compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Mean arterial pressures and heart rates were lower in Group C than in Group A at two and 24 hours. Return of bowel function and time to ambulation was earlier in Group C than in Group B. No significant complications were noted in any of the groups. Conclusion We conclude that a combination of lignocaine and bupivacaine instillation in the gallbladder bed provides the most effective pain relief following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, without significant complications at the doses used.

SP4.4 - Gallbladder Cancer: Radical Surgery and Prognosis

Abstract Introduction The prognosis for gallbladder cancer remains unfavorable, with advanced forms not being uncommon. This prospective study aims to assess outcomes based on the tumor stage and prognostic factors. Materials and Methods Patients with gallbladder cancer were included in a retrospective study, during which factors influencing the type of resection were considered, and prognostic factors were analyzed. We used the biomedical statistics software SPSS24 and Microsoft Excel. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test, with the calculation of the P-value (Pearson's test). Results One hundred and eighty-five patients were included in this retrospective study, with an average age of 62 years. In 24 patients, simple cholecystectomy was deemed sufficient, while radical cholecystectomy involving the gallbladder bed with lymphadenectomy was performed in 27 patients. Seventy-nine patients underwent hepatic resection (S4b–S5), and bile duct resection was necessary in 12 patients. Due to local and metastatic extension, 43 patients received palliative treatment. R0 resection was possible in 71.3% of cases. Two early reoperations were necessary, one for bleeding from the hepatic edge and the other for an abscess. T3 or T2 tumors with lymph node invasion underwent adjuvant treatment. The recurrence rate was 14.5%. The three-year survival, across all stages, was 73.4%. Conclusion Radical surgery of gallbladder cancer is not always possible. The tumor stage and type of resection influence the survival rate.

Cholecystocolonic Fistula (CCF) Case Report

Introduction: Gallbladder disease is one of the most common conditions affecting the digestive tract. Autopsy reports have shown a prevalence of gallstones ranging from 11-36%, with cholecystitis being one of the most prevalent complications. Although cholecystoenteric fistulas are rare, with an incidence of 0.15-0.5% among patients undergoing cholecystectomy, they can present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The transverse colon is the second most common site for these fistulas after the duodenum. A high degree of suspicion is required to diagnose it preoperatively. Here, we present a noteworthy case of a 65-year-old male patient with a fistula between the gallbladder and transverse colon, complicated by severe adhesions and a large stone, underscoring the complexities associated with this condition. Case Presentation: The patient had a history of hypertension and gallbladder stones when he was admitted during the COVID-19 pandemic with acute cholecystitis. Two years later, he had an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and, during surgery, the surgical team noticed significant adhesions around the gallbladder. Further inspection during dissection of the gallbladder bed revealed a fistula between the transverse colon and the gallbladder, and a single large stone was identified. The patient’s surgical procedure was successful, and his postoperative recovery was uncomplicated. Conclusion: A fistula between the gallbladder and transverse colon is a rare complication of gallbladder disease, and the transverse colon is the second most common cholecystoenteric fistula after the duodenum. The presence of a fistula is usually a late sequence of chronic gallstone disease that requires appropriate diagnosis and correct treatment. In this case, the surgery was complicated by extensive adhesions around the gallbladder with an adjacent colon and a large stone with a fistula noted between the transverse colon and the gallbladder. However, through careful planning, correct surgical procedures, and skilled surgical expertise, the patient’s condition after surgery lacked complications. This case focuses on the importance of addressing all possible complications of gallbladder disease and adjusting surgical procedures accordingly.

Laparoscopic Indocyanine Green-Guided Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Gallbladder Neoplasms.

Surgical resection, the only potentially curative treatment for gallbladder cancer (GBC), entails an extended cholecystectomy with portal lymphadenectomy. Lymph node dissection is a key staging procedure, but its therapeutic value is unclear. Additionally, it is technically challenging and potentially harmful. Methods for better assessment of lymph node status are needed. This report presents a case of indocyanine green (ICG)-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) for a patient with a gallbladder mass suspicious for GBC. An 81-year-old woman consulted for abdominal discomfort. Abdominal ultrasound showed an intraluminal gallbladder mass suspicious for GBC. Staging imaging did not show liver invasion, lymphadenopathy, or distant metastasis. Given the woman's advanced age and limited extent of disease, a laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with an ICG-guided SLNB was performed. Injection of 1 ml of ICG (0.125 mg/mL) into the gallbladder bed was performed using a 22-gauge needle, avoiding direct injection into the gallbladder wall. A near-infrared camera was used to visualize real-time ICG flow through the lymphatic vessels of the gallbladder toward the cystic node. Then, a sentinel lymph node posterolateral to the bile duct (station 12b) was identified. The node was resected and sent for permanent section. The procedure continued with an extended cholecystectomy. Pathology showed an intracholecystic papillary neoplasm with high-grade dysplasia. Cystic and sentinel lymph nodes were negative for malignancy. For patients with gallbladder neoplasms, ICG-guided SLNB is a feasible technique that could allow for treatment de-escalation. Further evaluation in clinical trials is needed.

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE CRITICAL VIEW OF SAFETY IN LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY AT BINH DAN HOSPITAL

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy using "The Critical View of Safety" (CVS) technique for the management of gallbladder stone disease. Subjects and methods: Prospective study, describing a series of cases of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy with CVS applied to treat gallbladder stones at Binh Dan Hospital from January 2022 to October 2022. Results: We enrolled 89 patients and recorded the following outcomes: the success rate was high, at 97.8%. The failure cases were due to large stones blocking the gallbladder neck and severe adhesions in the hepatocystic triangle in necrotizing cholecystitis. There is a statistically significant difference in the success rate of achieving CVS between groups: gallbladder condition (p=0.02), degree of adhesion inflammation of the hepatocystic triangle (p=0.039). The overall bleeding complication rate was 10.3% (9 cases) and during CVS was 6.7% (6 cases). The overall gallbladder perforation complication rate was 8% (7 cases) and during CVS was 4.4% (4 cases), with no biliary tract injuries. The postoperative complications included fluid collection in the gallbladder bed in 10.3% of cases and surgical wound infection in 2.3% of cases. All were successfully treated with conservative measures. Conclusion: We concluded that CVS is a necessary, safe, and effective diagnostic method in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder stone disease.

Blunt dissection method using HiQ+ soft coagulation system for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute cholecystitis.

During laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, it is often difficult to keep the surgical view dry because of inflammation-related tissue fragility and susceptibility to bleeding. The resulting inadequate surgical view can lead to bile duct or vascular injury. Soft coagulation systems are used to achieve hemostasis during various surgeries; however, the usefulness of soft coagulation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is unclear. We here demonstrate the usefulness and feasibility of blunt dissection and soft coagulation during this procedure. We used blunt dissection and soft coagulation when performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy on two patients with acute cholecystitis. As with conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy, four ports were inserted. After cutting the serosa by electrocautery, blunt dissection using soft coagulation was performed, exposing the inner subserosa. Maintaining this layer using blunt dissection with soft coagulation achieved a sufficiently clear view for safety. After resecting the cystic artery and duct, the gallbladder bed was also dissected by blunt dissection with soft coagulation. Blood loss was <20 mL in both patients. Blunt dissection with soft coagulation may be a useful and feasible means of keeping the surgical view dry and minimizing blood loss during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Post-cholecystectomy iatrogenic bile duct injuries: Emerging role for endoscopic management.

Post-cholecystectomy iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDIs), are not uncommon and although the frequency of IBDIs vary across the literature, the rates following the procedure of laparoscopic cholecystectomy are much higher than open cholecystectomy. These injuries caries a great burden on the patients, physicians and the health care systems and sometime are life-threatening. IBDIs are associated with different manifestations that are not limited to abdominal pain, bile leaks from the surgical drains, peritonitis with fever and sometimes jaundice. Such injuries if not witnessed during the surgery, can be diagnosed by combining clinical manifestations, biochemical tests and imaging techniques. Among such techniques abdominal US is usually the first choice while Magnetic Resonance Cholangio-Pancreatography seems the most appropriate. Surgical approach was the ideal approach for such cases, however the introduction of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP) was a paradigm shift in the management of such injuries due to accepted success rates, lower cost and lower rates of associated morbidity and mortality. However, the literature lacks consensus for the optimal timing of ERCP intervention in the management of IBDIs. ERCP management of IBDIs can be tailored according to the nature of the underlying injury. For the subgroup of patients with complete bile duct ligation and lost ductal continuity, transfer to surgery is indicated without delay. Those patients will not benefit from endoscopy and hence should not do unnecessary ERCP. For low-flow leaks e.g. gallbladder bed leaks, conservative management for 1-2 wk prior to ERCP is advised, in contrary to high-flow leaks e.g. cystic duct leaks and stricture lesions in whom early ERCP is encouraged. Sphincterotomy plus stenting is the ideal management line for cases of IBDIs. Interventional radiologic techniques are promising options especially for cases of failed endoscopic repair and also for cases with altered anatomy. Future studies will solve many unsolved issues in the management of IBDIs.

Clinical significance of extrahepatic bile duct resection for T2 gallbladder cancer using data from the Japanese Biliary Tract Cancer Registry between 2014 and 2018.

The present study aimed to determine whether concomitant extrahepatic bile duct resection (EHBDR) improves the prognosis of patients with T2 gallbladder cancer (GBC). Between 2014 and 2018, 4947 patients with GBC were registered in the National Biliary Tract Cancer Registry in Japan. This included 3804 patients (76.9%) who underwent curative-intent surgical resection; 1609 of these patients had pT2 GBC with no distant metastasis. Of the 1609 patients with GBC, 520 underwent EHBDR and 1089 did not. We compared the patients' backgrounds and disease-specific survival rates between the groups. The frequency of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in the EHBDR group than in the non-EHBDR group (38.2% vs. 20.7%, p < .001). In the entire cohort, however, there was no significant difference in disease-specific survival between the two groups (76% vs. 79%, p = .410). The EHBDR group had a significantly higher incidence of postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo classification grade = 3) (32.4% vs. 11.7%, p < .001). When we focused on the survival of only T2N1 patients who underwent gallbladder bed resection, the prognosis was significantly improved for the EHBDR group (5-year survival rate: 64% vs. 54%, p = .017). The non-EHBDR group was subcategorized into two groups: D2 dissection and D1 dissection or sampling, and survival curves were compared between these subgroups. Although the EHBDR group tended to have a favorable prognosis compared to the D2 group, this difference was not significant (p = .167). However, the EHBDR group had a significantly greater prognosis than the D1 dissection or sampling group (5 year-survival rate: 64 vs. 49%, p = .027). The EHBDR may improve the prognosis of patients with T2 gall bladder cancer with lymph node metastases; however, its indication should be carefully determined because of the increased risk of postoperative complications.

A randomised, prospective, double blind study of intraperitoneal instillation of 0.25% bupivacaine with clonidine versus 0.25% bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine for post-operative analgesia in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the standard and most accepted technique for Cholecystectomies due to lesser postop pain and short recovery time.The origin of abdominal and shoulder pain after laparoscopic procedures has led to the use of intra peritoneal instillation of local anaesthetic agent to reduce postoperative pain. To assess the efficacy and quality of postoperative analgesia between the study groups using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score at various time intervals along with side effects if any.: 60 patients belonging to ASA 1 and 11 categories posted for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy were given General Anaesthesia. After completion of surgery, before removing the trocar, anaesthetic study solution was sprayed on the surface of liver, gall bladder bed, right sub-diaphragmatic space, and port sites in Trendelenburg position. Volume and dilution of two drugs were same in both groups. Bupivacaine (0.25%) 50 mL; Dexmedetomidine (1 µg/kg) (BD) or Clonidine (1 µg/kg) (BC) was used. VAS score, Heart rate and BP measured at various time intervals and the time of first rescue analgesia noted.: VAS of BD group was 5.27 ± 0.64 to 3.70 ± 0.837 from 1 hour to 6 hour post extubation, when compared to BC group of 6.03 ± 0.669 in 1 hour reduced to 4.17 ± 0.699 at 6 hour post extubation. Dexmedetomidine combination significantly reduced the total dose of rescue analgesic required in 24 hours as compared to Clonidine combination.

Study of the Intersegmental Veins Between S5 and S8 Based on 3D Reconstruction

BackgroundAnatomic resection (AR) is a surgical method for treating hepatocellular carcinoma, and identifying intersegmental planes between segments 5 (S5) and 8 (S8) remains challenging. This study aims to find reliable intersegmental veins (IVs) between them as anatomical landmarks using 3D reconstruction analysis. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated 57 patients who underwent multidetector-row CT scans from September 2021 to January 2023. The portal vein watershed of S5 and S8 and hepatic veins were reconstructed using 3D reconstruction analysis software. We counted and analyzed the IVs running within the intersegmental plane between S5 and S8, examined their features, and analyzed the location of the junctions between IVs and middle hepatic veins (MHVs). ResultsAmong the 57 patients, 43 patients (75.4%) had IVs between S5 and S8. Most patients (81.4%) had a single IV joining the MHV, while 13.9% had two IVs, one joining the MHV and the other joining the right hepatic vein (RHV). The majority of IV-MHV junctions were found in the lower part of the MHVs. The most clearly identifiable junctions between the IVs and MHVs occurred slightly below the midpoint of the horizontal planes of the second hepatic portal and the center of the gallbladder bed. ConclusionOur study identified IVs between S5 and S8 in the liver as potential anatomical landmarks during AR for hepatocellular carcinoma surgery. We found three types of IVs and provided insights on how to locate their junctions with MHVs for easier surgical navigation. However, individual anatomical variations must be considered, and preoperative 3D reconstruction and personalized surgical planning are crucial for success. More research with larger sample sizes is needed to validate our findings and establish the clinical significance of these IVs as landmarks for AR.

Laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy for patients with residual gallstone disease: a single-center experience

Background The incidence of residual gallbladder after cholecystectomy procedures may reach 2.5%. That remnant part of the gallbladder may harbor or develop stones, leading to recurrent symptoms. Surgical excision is recommended in such patients. Herein, we describe our experience regarding laparoscopic management of patients with residual gallbladder or cystic duct stump stones. Patients and methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 24 patients with previous diagnosis, who were managed by laparoscopy in our tertiary-care setting. Relevant preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected. Results The time interval since the previous cholecystectomy ranged between 3 and 120 months. Most patients had previously undergone an open cholecystectomy (75%), while the remaining cases were performed through laparoscopy. The laparoscopic assessment revealed residual gallbladder and cystic duct stump stones in 87.5% and 12.5% of cases, respectively. Conversion to the open approach was needed only in two cases (8.3%). Operative time ranged between 60 and 130 min (mean = 108.83), while intraoperative blood loss had a mean value of 111.88 mL (range, 50–150). The duration of hospitalization ranged between 1 and 4 days (median = 1). Postoperative morbidity occurred in eight patients (33.33%). Wound infection, gallbladder bed collection, and pulmonary embolism occurred in 16.7, 16.7, and 4.2% of patients, respectively. No specific risk factors for postoperative morbidity were identified. Conclusion Laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy is considered a safe and effective procedure in experienced hands for managing patients with symptomatic gallbladder residuals .

Outcome of Early Versus Delayed Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Acute Calculus Cholecystitis

Background: The timing of cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis has been debated with most studies favoring early cholecystectomy. However, most surgeons in Bangladesh prefer to delay surgery in the acute phase. The study aimed to compare between early Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) with that of delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the management of acute calculus cholecystitis. Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study included a total of 74 patients with a diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis as per Tokyo guideline from the Surgery Department, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, during August 2019 to July 2020. Thirty-seven patients underwent early cholecystectomy (Within 7 days of onset of symptoms) and 37 patients underwent elective or delayed cholecystectomy (After a gap of 6-8 weeks from the acute attack). Peroperative events, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay and days needed to return to full activity were compared between two groups. Results: Both early and delayed groups were similar in-terms of their baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Significantly higher number of patients in the early group had difficult Callot’s triangle dissection (59.4% vs. 27.1%, p&lt;0.01) and lower number of patients had difficult gallbladder bed dissection (5.4% vs. 37.8%, p&lt;0.001) than the delayed group. The proportion of the patients required conversion to open surgery was 10.8% and 6.1%, respectively in early and delayed group (p=0.691). Total hospital stay was shorter in the early surgery group than the delayed surgery group (6.05±0.52 vs. 12.03±1.46 days, p=0.001). Wound infection, duration of hospital stays following surgery, and days need to return to full activity after surgery was similar between two groups. Conclusion: Early cholecystectomy is feasible and safe for acute cholecystitis and is better method of treatment because of its shorter hospital stay, which is a major economic benefit to both the patient and health care system. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 5(2), Dec 2022; 11-14

Short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic radical gallbladder resection for gallbladder carcinoma: A multi-institutional retrospective study in Japan.

Laparoscopic resection of gallbladder carcinomas remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic procedures for suspected gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). In this retrospective study, data regarding suspected GBC treated with laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy before 2020 in Japan, was included. Patient characteristics, surgical procedure details, surgical outcomes, and long-term outcomes were analyzed. Data of 129 patients with suspected GBC who underwent laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy were retrospectively collected from 11 institutions in Japan. Among them, 82 patients with pathological GBC were included in the study. Laparoscopic gallbladder bed resection was performed in 114 patients and laparoscopic resection of segments IVb and V was performed in 15 patients. The median operation time was 269 min (range: 83-725 min), and the median intraoperative blood loss was 30 mL (range: 0-950 mL). The conversion and postoperative complication rates were 8% and 2%, respectively. During the follow-up period, the 5-year overall survival rate was 79% and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 87%. Recurrence was detected in the liver, lymph nodes, and other local tissues. Laparoscopic radical cholecystectomy is a treatment option with potential favorable outcomes in selected patients with suspected GBC.

Induction chemotherapy and hepatic artery embolization followed by extended resection for locally advanced gallbladder cancer: a case report

BackgroundSurgical resection plays a critical role in the curative therapy of patients with gallbladder cancer. However, extended resection for locally advanced gallbladder cancer is a controversial procedure because of the high operative morbidity, mortality, and poor prognosis after surgery, without consensus of its suitability. Several reports have described preoperative treatment modalities to reduce the risk of mortality and morbidity and improve the curability of surgery for locally advanced GBCA. However, only a few well-designed studies have verified the benefits of these preoperative strategies.Case presentationA 62-year-old male patient presented to our department with a gallbladder tumor detected on abdominal ultrasound during an annual medical checkup. Multi-phase enhanced CT revealed a gallbladder tumor with a maximum diameter of 34 mm, invading the right hepatic artery, pancreatic head, hepatic flexure of the colon, and first portion of the duodenum. We diagnosed gallbladder carcinoma as cT4 cN0 cM0 cStage IVA in the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) classification 8th edition. After administration of 12 cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin plus S-1 regimen, tumor shrinkage was observed on computed tomography, and elevated serum CA19-9 levels were reduced to normal limits. After preoperative hepatic artery embolization, we performed gallbladder bed resection with pancreaticoduodenectomy (minor hepatopancreatoduodenectomy) and combined resection of the right hepatic artery and hepatic flexure of the colon. Histological examination revealed no evidence of lymph node metastasis (ypT4 ypN0 ycM0 yp Stage IVA in the 8th edition of the UICC). The proximal bile duct and dissected margins were negative.ConclusionsThe combination of induction chemotherapy and preoperative hepatic artery embolization, followed by minor hepatopancreatoduodenectomy and combined resection of the involved arteries and partial colon, could be a feasible treatment strategy for patients with locally advanced gallbladder cancer invading neighboring organs.

Standardization of pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for gallbladder cancers.

Application of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) for gallbladder cancers (GBC) has been approved by the Japanese national health insurance system since 2022. However, there are few reports describing LLR techniques for GBCs. We herein report pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for clinical T2 GBC patients. We performed this procedure for five clinical T2 GBC patients from September 2019 to September 2022. Under general anesthesia and usual set-up for LLR, the caudal line of the hepatoduodenal ligament is transected and the lesser omentum is opened. The right and left hepatic arteries are skeletonized and taped while dissected lymph nodes being dissected toward the hilar side. Then, the common bile duct is taped and the portal vein dissecting the lymph nodes toward the gallbladder. After completing skeletonization of the hepatoduodenal ligament, the cystic duct and the cystic artery are clipped and divided. Hepatic parenchymal transection is performed employing Pringle's maneuver and crush-clamp technique, the same as usual LLR. We perform gallbladder bed resection with surgical margin of 2-3 cm from the gallbladder bed. The mean operating time and blood loss were 151 minutes and 46.4 mL, respectively. There was one case of bile leakage requiring endoscopic stent placement. We successfully established pure laparoscopic extended cholecystectomy with en-bloc lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament for clinical T2 GBC.

Do not get stumped: multimodality imaging findings of early and late post-cholecystectomy complications

Cholecystectomy is the most performed intra-abdominal surgical procedure in the US, with 1.2 million performed annually, and is predominantly performed laparoscopically. Although largely safe, laparoscopic cholecystectomy results in higher rates of abdominal symptoms consisting of abdominal pain and dyspepsia, which may persist or recur, collectively known as post-cholecystectomy syndrome. This article aims to (1) provide an overview of post-cholecystectomy syndrome with an emphasis on biliary complications and emergent imaging findings, (2) illustrate the spectrum of imaging findings of early and late post-cholecystectomy complications, (3) enumerate the role of various imaging modalities in evaluating post-cholecystectomy complications and address the role of selective trans-catheter coil embolization in managing bile leaks, and (4) discuss pearls and pitfalls in imaging following cholecystectomy. While common first-line imaging modalities for post-cholecystectomy complications include CT and sonography, ERCP and MRCP can delineate the biliary tree with greater detail. Scintigraphy has a higher sensitivity and specificity than CT or sonography for diagnosing bile leak and may preclude the need for ERCP. Post-operative complications include biliary duct injury or leak, biliary obstruction, remnant gallbladder/cystic duct stones and inflammation, biliary dyskinesia, papillary stenosis, and vascular injury. Subtle cases resulting in lethal outcomes, such as hemorrhage from the gallbladder bed without major vessel injury, have also been described. Cases presented will include biliary complications such as post-cholecystectomy stump cholecystitis, nonbiliary complications such as subcapsular hematoma, and normal post-surgical findings such as oxidized regenerated cellulose. Post-operative biliary complications can cause significant morbidity and mortality, and thus familiarity with the expected post-surgical appearance of the gallbladder fossa and biliary tract, as well as understanding the spectrum of complications and associated multimodality imaging findings, are essential for emergency radiologists and those practicing in the acute care setting to direct appropriate patient management. Furthermore, many of the postoperative complications can be managed by noninvasive percutaneous interventional procedures, from drain placement to cystic artery and cystic duct stump embolization.