Measurement of patient-reported outcomes after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures (PROMs) are increasingly used as endpoints in surgical trials. PROs need to be consistently measured and reported to accurately evaluate surgical care. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a commonly performed procedure which may be evaluated by PROs. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and consistency of PRO measurement and reporting after LC. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for prospective studies reporting PROs of LC, between 2013 and 2016. Data on the measurement and reporting of PROs were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 281 studies were evaluated. Forty-five unique multi-item questionnaires were identified, most of which were used in single studies (n = 35). One hundred and ten unique rating scales were used to assess 358 PROs. The visual analogue scale was used to assess 24 different PROs, 17 of which were only reported in single studies. Details about the type of rating scale used were not given for 72 scales. Three hundred and twenty-three PROs were reported in 162 studies without details given about the scale or questionnaire used to evaluate them. CONCLUSIONS: Considerable variation was identified in the choice of PROs reported after LC, and in how they were measured. PRO measurement for LC is focused on short-term outcomes, such as post-operative pain, rather than longer-term outcomes. Consideration should be given towards the development of a core outcome set for LC which incorporates PROs.

Reporting of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Consistent measurement and reporting of outcomes, including adequately defined complications, is important for the evaluation of surgical care and the appraisal of new surgical techniques. The range of complications reported after LC has not been evaluated. This study aimed to identify the range of complications currently reported for laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), and the adequacy of their definitions. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for prospective studies reporting clinical outcomes of LC, between 2013 and 2016. RESULTS: In total 233 studies were included, reporting 967 complications, of which 204 (21%) were defined. One hundred and twenty-two studies (52%) did not provide definitions for any of the complications reported. Conversion to open cholecystectomy was the most commonly reported complication, reported in 135 (58%) studies, followed by bile leak in 89 (38%) and bile duct injury in 75 (32%). Mortality was reported in 89 studies (38%). CONCLUSION: Considerable variation was identified between studies in the choice of measures used to evaluate the complications of LC, and in their definitions. A standardised set of core outcomes of LC should be developed for use in clinical trials and in evaluating the performance of surgical units.

Modular acute system for general surgery: hand over the operation, not the patient.

INTRODUCTION: Various models have been proposed to effectively provide acute surgical care in Australasia. Recently, General Surgeons Australia (GSA) has published a 12-point plan with guiding principles on this matter. This study describes a model of providing acute general surgical care in a high-volume institution, evaluates clinical outcomes and critically appraises the system against the GSA 12-point plan. METHODS: The acute care system is qualitatively described with quantitative measures of workload. The outcomes of acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy were used as a proxy of system performance. The system was critically appraised against the GSA 12-point plan. RESULTS: Teams are on call once per week with each surgeon on call once per fortnight. The three key elements of acute management - collecting patients, post-acute ward round and operating - are treated as modules. The patient remains under the care of the admitting consultant but is often operated on by another team. From June 2009 to 2010, there were 7429 acute general surgical admissions (mean: 20.4 patients per day) with 2999 acute operations (mean: 8.4 operations per day). The other activities of the department were not compromised. In that time, 388 acute laparoscopic cholecystectomies were performed with a conversion rate of 1.3% and no major bile duct injury. The system is compatible with the GSA 12-point plan. CONCLUSION: This study describes an efficient and safe system for providing acute general surgical care in a high-volume setting with satisfactory clinical outcomes. It is compatible with the GSA 12-point plan.

Gastric cancer location and histological subtype in Pacific people and Maori defies international trends.

AIMS: Gastric cancer location and histopathology in Pacific people (mostly of Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, or Cook Islands origin) and Maori in New Zealand has not been specifically examined. METHODS: A retrospective review of all histologically-proven new cases of gastric adenocarcinoma and gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinoma at Middlemore Hospital (Auckland, New Zealand) from June 2003-June 2009 was conducted. Demographic data, clinical presentation, diagnostic/ staging investigations and surgical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: There were 133 patients of whom 79 (59%) were male. Forty-nine (37%) patients were of Pacific ethnicity and 34 (26%) were Maori. Maori (59.3 years; p=0.01) and Pacific (64.5 years; p=0.01) patients were significantly younger at diagnosis compared to European patients (77.2 years). European patients had more proximal tumours (n=18; 47%) compared to Pacific (n=5; 10%) and Maori (n=4; 12%) patients (p= 0.01). Pacific (n=25; 51%) and Maori (n=21; 62%) patients had a significantly higher percentage of diffuse-type gastric cancer compared to European (n=7; 18%) patients. There was no difference in stage of presentation between ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Maori and Pacific patients present with gastric cancer at higher rates and at a younger age. They have a predominance of diffuse-type antral and gastric body cancers which stand in contrast to global trends in gastric cancer.

Acute laparoscopic cholecystectomy: preferred treatment for acute biliary disease.

BACKGROUND: Early laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been shown to be the treatment of choice for acute presentations of gallstone disease. However, currently this practice is not common in many centres. The aim of the study was to evaluate surgical management of patients presenting with acute symptomatic gallstone disease to Middlemore Hospital in 2005. METHODS: A retrospective case review of acute presentations of symptomatic gallstone disease was carried out between 1 January and 31 December 2005. RESULTS: Four hundred and two patients were included in the final analysis. Forty-six of these patients were unfit for surgery, 26 were solely admitted to the emergency department without being referred to a surgical team and 25 declined surgery. Therefore, 305 patients (76%) were eligible for surgery at index admission (IA). Two hundred and four (67%) received surgery during IA with a median time to surgery of 3 days. From the 198th patient who did not have acute surgery at IA, 112 had delayed surgery. When comparing those with surgery at IA with those who did not receive surgery at IA, median length of stay for IA was significantly longer in acute surgical group (5 vs 3 P = 0.05); however, there was no significant difference in duration of total hospital stay (6 vs 6 P > 0.05). For those who had acute surgery the conversion rate was 3% (six) compared with 7% (seven) in delayed surgery group (P = 0.09). CONCLUSION: Acute surgery remains the treatment of choice for acute biliary disease. This approach requires a committed team approach but is safe and effective.