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Endoscopic sphincterotomy and interval cholecystectomy are reasonable alternatives to index cholecystectomy in severe acute gallstone pancreatitis (GSP)

  • Pandanaboyana Sanjay
  • , Sim Yeeting
  • , Carole Whigham
  • , Hannah Judson
  • , Francesco M. Polignano
  • , Iain S. Tait

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Background UK guidelines for gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) advocate definitive treatment during the index admission, or within 2 weeks of discharge. However, this target may not always be achievable. This study reviewed current management of GSP in a university hospital and evaluated the risk associated with interval cholecystectomy.

    Methods All patients that presented with GSP over a 4-year period (2002-2005) were stratified for disease severity (APACHE II). Patient demographics, time to definitive therapy [index cholecystectomy; endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES); Interval cholecystectomy], and readmission rates were analysed retrospectively.

    Results 100 patients admitted with GSP. Disease severity was mild in 54 patients and severe in 46 patients. Twenty-two patients unsuitable for surgery underwent ES as definitive treatment with no readmissions. Seventy-eight patients underwent cholecystectomy, of which 40 (58%) had an index cholecystectomy, and 38 (42%) an interval cholecystectomy.

    Only 10 patients with severe GSP had an index cholecystectomy, whilst 30 were readmitted for Interval cholecystectomy (p = 0.04). The median APACHE score was 4 [standard deviation (SD) 3.8] for index cholecystectomy and 8 (SD 2.6) for Interval cholecystectomy (p < 0.05). Median time (range) to surgery was 7.5 (2-30) days for index cholecystectomy and 63 (13-210) days for Interval cholecystectomy. Fifty percent (19/38) of patients with GSP had ES prior to discharge for interval cholecystectomy. Two (5%) patients were readmitted: with acute cholecystitis (n = 1) and acute pancreatitis (n = 1) , whilst awaiting interval cholecystectomy. No mortality was noted in the Index or Interval group.

    Conclusions This study demonstrates that overall 62% (22 endoscopic sphincterotomy and 40 index cholecystectomy) of patients with GSP have definitive therapy during the Index admission. However, surgery was deferred in the majority (n = 30) of patients with severe GSP, and 19/30 underwent ES prior to discharge. ES and interval cholecystectomy in severe GSP is associated with minimal morbidity and readmission rates, and is considered a reasonable alternative to an index cholecystectomy in patients with severe GSP.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1832-1837
    Number of pages6
    JournalSurgical Endoscopy
    Volume22
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2008

    Keywords

    • index
    • interval
    • gallstone
    • pancreatitis
    • cholecystectomy
    • ACUTE BILIARY PANCREATITIS
    • LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY
    • CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
    • MANAGEMENT
    • SURGERY
    • MILD
    • PAPILLOTOMY
    • TRIAL
    • TRACT
    • AUDIT

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