Optimization of Surgical Treatment of Cholelithiasis and its Complications in Patients with High Operative-Anesthesiological Risk

Abstract

The ratio of the prevalence of the gallstone disease (GSD) in the elderly and senile age groups compared with young and middle-aged patients can reach 3:4. The main complication of the GSD is acute cholecystitis, which is observed in more than 90% of patients. However, the most dangerous complication is considered to be obstructive choledocholithiasis, which leads to the development of mechanical jaundice and cholangitis in 10 - 35% of cases.
 The aim of the researchwas to propose an algorithm for the treatment of the GSD complicated by acute cholecystitis and obstructive choledocholithiasis in elderly and senile patients with severe concomitant pathology.
 Methods.The study is based on the analysis of the results of examination and treatment of 47 patients with GSD complicated by acute calculous cholecystitis and obstructive choledocholithiasis. All patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group included 17 patients in whom, in addition to acute cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis with concretion infringement in the BSDK was detected. The second group included 24 patients in whom, in addition to acute cholecystitis, obstructive choledocholithiasis and cholangitis were diagnosed. The third group included 6 patients in whom for some reason choledocholithiasis was not diagnosed at the first stage or it occurred later as a complication of cholecystostomy.
 Results.For patients of the first group the endoscopic papillosphincterotomy on stone was performed followed by cholangiography to find out the status of the bile ducts. Patients of the second underwent percutaneous transhepatic choledochostomy at the first stage. Patients of the third group were injected a Foley catheter into the cavity of the gallbladder through the cholecystostomy opening and the cavity of the gallbladder was sealed. Saline solution was injected into the lumen of the gallbladder and its ducts under the pressure of 250 mm. aq. art. This led to the dilatation of the lumen of the bile ducts.
 Conclusions.The proposed algorithm allows radical treatment of the GSD complicated by choledocholithiasis and cholangitis. The differentiated approach to the transpapillary solution of choledocholithiasis allows to minimize the risk of post-manipulation pancreatitis. AAPST allows to cure choledocholithiasis when endoscopic papillosphincterotomy is dangerous or not feasible.