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Introduction This study aims to compare the patient demographics and management of acute manifestations of gallstone disease during the COVID-19 pandemic with an equivalent period in 2019 and assess the differences in recurrence patterns throughout the first and second waves of the pandemic in the UK. Methods A retrospective cohort study of all adult patients aged >16 years presenting to the emergency department at a large District General Hospital with symptoms related to gallstones. Data were obtained from electronic patient records. The primary outcomes were incidence and management of gallstone disease, while secondary outcomes studied included length of stay, readmission rate, and recurrence. Data were tabulated and analyzed using Excel (Microsoft, 2016 version). Chi-square and t-test were used as appropriate. One way ANOVA test was used to compare data of three groups. Results Fifty-one patients presented during the period of first-wave and 105 patients during the second wave as compared to 71 patients in the study period in 2019. The median age of patients during the first wave of COVID was significantly higher than pre-COVID in the second wave. During both the waves of the pandemic, there was no significant difference in patients presenting with cholecystitis compared with 2019 (47 and 94 in the first and second wave, respectively, versus 60 in 2019; p-value 0.39). There was no significant increase in the use of cholecystostomy, and the use of radiological investigations was comparable. There was no significant difference in recurrence and readmissions. The majority of the patients still await surgery. Conclusion During the pandemic, older patients with higher co-morbidity presented with acute gallstone disease. Conservative management was effective in the management of these patients.
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Aims Emergency laparotomies (ELs) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Delays to the theater are inevitably associated with worse outcomes. Higher mortality has been reported with admissions over the weekend. The aim of this study is to compare the delays and outcomes of emergency laparotomies performed on weekdays (WD) and weekends (WE) at a high-volume, large district general hospital. Methods A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database was performed for all patients who underwent general surgical emergency laparotomy between June and October 2021. Patient outcomes were compared between delayed and non-delayed surgeries as per the NCEPOD (National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death) classification. The primary outcome compared was the 30-day post-operative mortality and morbidity determined by the Clavein-Dindo class ≥2. Secondary outcomes included the time from booking to anaesthesia start time, i.e., time to theatre (TTT), delay in surgery, out-of-hours (OOH) surgery, and unplanned return to theatres. Results Of the 103 laparotomies included, 33% were performed over the weekend. The most common indication for emergency laparotomy was bowel obstruction (53.4 %), followed by perforation (28.2%). There was no significant difference in mortality, the TTT (p = 0.218), delay in surgery with respect to the NCEPOD category of intervention (p = 0.401), postoperative length of stay (p = 0.555), number of cases operated OOH as well as unplanned return to theatres. There was a significant difference in the morbidity of patients between the two groups (Clavein-Dindo class ≥2, p = 0.021). Conclusion With consistent consultant involvement, an equivalent standard of weekend emergency surgical service can be delivered.
