[Choice of therapeutic approach in acute cholecystitis in the elderly]. / Elección de la conducta terapéutica en la colecistitis aguda del anciano.

BACKGROUND: Acute cholecystitis in elderly patients is a common disease characterized by a high mortality rate and serious complications. AIM: To compare conservative vs. surgical therapy for acute cholecystitis in the elderly. METHODS: This is a retrospective study including patients 70 years-old or older with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis (AC) treated between 2003 and 2009. Epidemiological and clinical data, diagnostic approach, surgical variables and cost-effectiveness were analyzed. According to the first therapeutic intent, the analysis was performed among final treatment groups and among older than 80 years and younger cases. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analysis was performed with StatView(©) 5.0. RESULTS: During the six-year period 173 episodes of acute cholecystitis were treated on 147 patients (52% females), with a mean age of 80.6 years (range 70-101). In 103 cases medical treatment was taken, with 82 cases of resolution of the clinical picture, 15 unexpected operations and 6 deceases. Other 70 cases were undergone surgery as first option, 78.5% of them through laparoscopy with a conversion rate of 19.7%. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, surgery and medical treatment get similar outcomes, making better progress those who underwent early laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We recommend performing emergency surgery in high-risk elderly patients rather than conservative therapy due to a tendency to increase morbidity with later approach.

[New diagnostic and surgical approach to Mirizzi syndrome]. / Nuevas posibilidades diagnósticas y terapéuticas en el síndrome de Mirizzi.

Mirizzi's syndrome is an unusual complication of gallstone disease, in which a stone impacting in the neck of the gallbladder (Hartmann s pouch) compresses the common bile duct. This mechanical obstruction leads to obstructive jaundice frequently followed by inflammatory changes and several complications. We present two patients affected by Mirizzi's syndrome whose diagnosis was correct in the preoperative period and approached by laparoscopy. A case was converted to open procedure due to adhesions in the Calot's triangle, and therefore, treated with subtotal cholecystectomy and choledochorrhaphy over a T tube. In the other case the laparoscopy access became successful. Both postoperative courses were uneventful. In this article, suitable diagnostic techniques are analyzed. On the other hand, we discuss what is the best therapeutic option, with a special attention to the relevance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic approach in the management of those patients.

Nuevas posibilidades diagnósticas y terapéuticas en el síndrome de Mirizzi / New diagnostic and surgical approach to Mirizzi syndrome

El síndrome de Mirizzi es una variante poco frecuente de colelitiasis en la que un cálculo impactado en la bolsa de Hartmann comprime la vía biliar desencadenando una ictericia obstructiva, frecuentemente seguida de fenómenos inflamatorios y de diversas complicaciones (colecistitis, colangitis, fístulas etc). Presentamos dos pacientes con síndrome de Mirizzi, correctamente diagnosticados en el preoperatorio e intervenidos por vía laparoscópica. Un caso fue convertido por adherencias en el triángulo de Calot y tratado con colecistectomía subtotal y coledocorrafia sobre tubo en T de Kher. En el otro enfermo se pudo completar con éxito el procedimiento. Ambos postoperatorios cursaron con normalidad. En el presente artículo, se analizan las técnicas diagnósticas que ayudan a una identificación precoz del síndrome y se discuten las opciones terapéuticas más adecuadas en el momento actual, prestando una especial atención al papel de la colangiopancreatografía endoscópica y del abordaje laparoscópico en el manejo de estos pacientes

Mirizzi’s syndrome is an unusual complication of gallstone disease, in which a stone impacting in the neck of the gallbladder (Hartmann’s pouch) compresses the common bile duct. This mechanical obstruction leads to obstructive jaundice frequently followed by inflammatory changes and several complications. We present two patients affected by Mirizzi’s syndrome whose diagnosis was correct in the preoperative period and approached by laparoscopy. A case was converted to open procedure due to adhesions in the Calot’s triangle, and therefore, treated with subtotal cholecystectomy and choledochorrhaphy over a T tube. In the other case the laparoscopy access became successful. Both postoperative courses were uneventful. In this article, suitable diagnostic techniques are analyzed. On the other hand, we discuss what is the best therapeutic option, with especial attention to the relevance of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and laparoscopic approach in the management of those patients