Routine Histopathological Examination of the Specimen After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Can We Be Brave Enough to Give Up?

BACKGROUND: Selective versus routine histopathological examination after cholecystectomy is still in debate. This study aims to investigate the effect of histopathology results on treatment modality and surgery strategy. The validity of the selective histopathology approach was questioned. METHODS: The data of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy between January 2009 and December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The demographics and histopathology results, whether the operation was emergent or elective, and the reasons for conversion to open surgery were recorded. Malignant and precursor histopathology diagnoses were examined, and their relationship with the surgical strategy was questioned. RESULTS: A total of 2723 patients were included in the study. Of these patients, 2600 (95.5%) were operated under elective, while 123 (4.5%) were operated under emergency conditions. While the surgery was completed laparoscopically in 2685 (98.6%) patients, it was converted to open surgery in 38 (1.4%) patients. Age, gender, the presence of primary gallbladder cancer, acute cholecystitis, and xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in histopathological examination were found to be independent predictive factors for conversion to open surgery (P < .05). The rate of primary invasive carcinoma in the series was 0.1%. CONCLUSION: Routine histopathological examination of the gallbladder is important for demonstrating a wide spectrum of pathological changes in this organ. Invasive cancer or precursor lesions can be detected even in patients without any macroscopic abnormality. Histopathological examination also plays a role in determining follow-up, further examination, and treatment modality in addition to the diagnosis in these patients.

Acute Appendicitis in Pregnancy: How to Manage?

OBJECTIVES: Acute appendicitis during pregnancy may be associated with severe maternal and fetal complications. The clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters used in diagnosis and the effects of the surgical method and timing on the results are controversial. The present study aims to reveal the relationship between clinical approach, surgical treatment methods and complications in pregnant women with suspected acute appendicitis. METHODS: Between December 2007 and August 2019, 21 pregnant women who underwent appendectomy were included in this study. Age, gestational age, complaints at admission, leukocyte count, radiological examination results, type of surgery (conventional or laparoscopic), histopathology results, time from admission to operation, maternal and fetal complications were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: The number of patients who developed complications was six (28.6%). Three (14.3%) of these patients had preterm birth and three (14.3%) had an abortion. There was no statistically significant relationship between trimester and complication (p=0.747). Fourteen patients (66.7%) underwent laparoscopic surgery and seven patients (33.3%) underwent conventional surgery. Although the complication rate was higher in the laparoscopic group, there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.306). The fetal loss rate in the series was 14.3% and all were in the laparoscopic group. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.158). CONCLUSION: Pregnancy-related limiting factors may complicate the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. These patients definitely need a more skeptical assessment and additional diagnostic tools beyond the standard clinical approach. Although laparoscopic appendectomy appears to be a safe option in treatment, its relationship with a higher risk of fetal loss should be kept in mind.