Can we predict severity of acute cholecystitis at admission?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute cholecystitis (AC) is an inflammation of the gallbladder. Tokyo Guidelines (TGs) for the diagnosis of AC classified this condition according to severity as mild, moderate and severe. Therapeutic intervention regulated according to the type of severity. This study aimed to determine laboratory parameters that predict the severity of AC at hospital admission. METHODS: One-hundred and ten patients with AC were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were treated in our department of surgery within a one-year period (2015-2016). Three patient groups were formed depending on the severity of Acute cholecystitis. RESULTS: The baseline mean values for white blood cell count (WBC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and international normalized ratio (INR) were higher in the severe patient group at a significant level compared to the mild patient group. The WBC level was also significantly higher in the moderate group than the mild group. However, none of the laboratory parameters differentiated the severe group from the moderate group. CONCLUSION: Acute cholecystitis patients with high WBC, BUN, creatinine and INR levels at admission should be referred to an advanced care center for management.

Correlation between Ranson score and red cell distribution width in acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Ranson's criteria are widely used to evaluate severity of acute pancreatitis (AP). Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been demonstrated to be useful marker to predict mortality in these patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate correlation between Ranson score and RDW in patients with AP. METHODS: Total of 202 patients with AP were included in the study. Patients were classified as mild or severe AP, based on presence of organ failure for more than 48 hours and/or local complications. RESULTS: Forty patients (19.8%) were diagnosed as severe AP. High sensitivity and specificity values were obtained from receiver operating characteristic curve for initial RDW and Ranson score in predicting severe AP. Ranson ≥4 was selected cut-off value for Ranson score and 14% was limit for RDW. RDW at time of admission was correlated with 48-hour Ranson score (r=0.22; p<0.002). However, at day 0, there was no correlation between RDW and 0-hour Ranson score (r=0.07; p=0.600). CONCLUSION: Although there is no single, ideal method to assess severity of AP, RDW level at admission can be helpful in earlier prediction of AP severity, especially in first-line centers, taking into consideration disadvantages of multifactorial scoring systems.

High serum cancer antigen 125 level indicates perforation in acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is sometimes challenging, and prompt evaluation is required because of the risk of complications if not treated appropriately. AIM: We aimed to evaluate whether cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) has diagnositic accuracy and predictor of the severity in acute appendicitis. RESULTS: Sixty patients with acute appendicitis were recruited prospectively in this study between May 2014 and March 2015. Blood samples were obtained to measure CA-125 levels before appendectomy. Of the 57 patients, 10 had perforated or gangrenous appendicitis intraoperatively. The CA-125 levels were significantly higher in patients with perforated or gangrenous appendicitis than patients with uncomplicated appendicitis (49.9 vs 10.5 U/mL, P=.000). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with highly suspected or confirmed appendicitis could help clinicians determine the severity of the disease.