Cholecystectomy is considered the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstone disease. Some patients abstain from surgery and provide the opportunity to study the natural history of cholelithiasis. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility and safety of observation after extended long-term follow-up in a randomized controlled trial.A total of 137 patients (40.5% of those assessed) were randomized to observation or cholecystectomy and followed up for 14 years. The prevalence of symptomatic events or major complications after treatment was the primary end point. A secondary end point was completion of randomized treatment.There were no differences in outcome between the observation group and the surgical group (p = 0.298). Virtually no cholecystectomy was performed after 5 years of follow-up, and no clear escalation in the severity of the disease was observed. A total of 50.7% of patients from the observation group and 88.2% from the surgical group underwent surgery. The group randomized to surgery completed their designated treatment significantly more often (p < 0.001), especially among patients younger than 70 years of age (p = 0.005).Cholecystectomy was the preferred treatment after extended long-term follow-up, but conservative management for symptomatic gallstone disease is an alternative to surgery in the elderly.
Background. The fate of asymptomatic gallstones has not been investigated in many studies with a long-term follow-up. We wanted to examine the subsequent rate of cholecystectomy and gallstone-related symptoms in a population examined in 1983. Methods. Among the persons examined in 1983, unknown (perceived as silent) gallstones were discovered in 20.1% (285/1417) persons. Owing to technical reasons, only 89.9% (1274 persons) of the original study population was retrieved for the present study. Of these, 19.2% (245 persons) had gallstones in 1983 [135 women (55.1%) and 110 men (44.9%), mean age in 1983: 49.9 and 51.3 years, respectively]. Results. Of the 154 still living persons with gallstones from 1983, 134 were traced for follow-up. Of these, 89 underwent a clinical examination and 45 answered a mail or telephone questionnaire. Ultrasonography revealed gallstones in 28.1% (25/89) and 6.7% (9/134) had had the gallbladder removed. 5.5% (5/91) of the deceased patients had had a cholecystectomy. Overall cholecystectomy rate was 6.2%. No link could be shown between the number and the size of gallstones in 1983 and the ultrasonographic demonstration of gallstones in 2007. 43.8% had abdominal pain, and 29.2% had functional abdominal complaints. Conclusions. Unexpectedly, only a minority of persons examined with ultrasonography had present day gallstones without any obvious explanation for this low figure. The rate of cholecystectomy was low in a conservative setting and no adverse events could be ascertained from such a policy.
Abstract Background The physical examination is one of the cornerstones of the diagnostic process in patients with acute shoulder injuries. The discriminative properties of a given examination test depend both on its validity and reliability. The aim of the present study was to assess the interrater reliability of 13 physical examination manoeuvres for acute rotator cuff tears in patients with acute soft tissue shoulder injuries. Methods In a large walk-in orthopaedic emergency department, 120 consecutive patients ≥40 years of age were included in a diagnostic study. Patients who had follow-up within three weeks of an acute shoulder injury without fracture on radiographs were eligible. Four emergency department physicians participated as examiners. In a subset of 48 patients, the physical examination tests were performed by two physicians, randomly chosen by their work rotation. The physicians were blinded to the findings of each other and the results of the ultrasound screening. The interrater reliability was assessed by Cohen’s kappa, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and Bland-Altman plots depending on whether the examination test result was registered as a binary, ordered categorical or continuous numerical variable. Results The median age was 55.5 years, 46% were female. Twenty-seven percent had a rotator cuff full-thickness tear on ultrasound screening; all but one involved the supraspinatus tendon. Cohen’s kappa for binary tests ranged from excellent to fair. Excellent agreement (kappa > 0.8) was found for the inability to abduct above 90° and abduction strength. External rotation strength expressed substantial agreement (kappa 0.7). The lowest scores were registered for Hawkins` test and the external rotation lag sign (kappa 0.25 and 0.40, respectively). The ICCs for active range of abduction and external rotation were 0.93 (0.88–0.96) and 0.84 (0.72–0.91), whereas the SEM was 15 and 9, respectively. Conclusions The results indicate that examination manoeuvres assessing abduction and external rotation range of motion and strength are more reliable than manoeuvres assessing pain in patients in the acute phase of traumatic shoulder injury. The poor agreement observed is likely to limit the validity in the present setting of two commonly used tests. Trial registration The Norwegian Regional Ethics Committee South East ( 2015/195 ).
Background. Our aim was to investigate cancer incidence and the cause of long-term mortality in different gallstone diseases and conditions. Study design. The study population consisted of 2034 subjects: 224 persons diagnosed with asymptomatic gallstones in 1983, 254 patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 1983, and 513 patients with symptomatic uncomplicated gallstones (SGS, n = 337) or acute cholecystitis (AC, n = 176) between 1992 and 1994. One thousand and forty-three people who participated in a population study in 1983 were controls. Results. An overall increased risk of cancer, as well as higher mortality, was found among persons with asymptomatic gallstones compared to controls (HR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.06–2.00 and HR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.08–1.78), whereas patients who underwent cholecystectomy in 1983 showed a slightly higher risk (not significant) for both cancer and death than controls. Among patients with SGS from 1992 to 1994 there was a significantly higher risk of contracting cancer in patients who had undergone surgery (HR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.13–5.83). For patients with AC, there was no significant difference between surgically treated and non-surgically treated subjects, but there was a higher risk of cancer in all AC compared to SGS patients (HR 2.03, 95% CI: 1.20–3.43). Mortality did not differ significantly between surgically treated and non-surgically treated patients with SGS or AC. Conclusion. Gallstone patients had a greater risk than the general population for developing cancer, but this was dependent on the type of gallstone condition and treatment. The effect of cholecystectomy seemed dubious.
AIM:To classify gallstone disease as a basis for assessment of post-cholecystectomy symptoms. METHODS:One hundred and fifty three patients with a clinical and ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallstones filled out a structured questionnaire on abdominal pain symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) before and at six months after cholecystectomy.Symptom frequency groups (SFG) were categorized according to frequency of pain attacks.According to certain pain characteristics in gallstone patients, a gallstone symptom score was accorded on a scale from one to ten.A visual analogue scale was used to quantify pain.Operative specimens were examined for size and magnitude of stone contents as well as presence of bacteria.Follow-up took place after six months with either a consultation or via a mailed questionnaire.Results were compared with those obtained pre-operatively to describe and analyze symptomatic outcome.RESULTS: SFG groups were categorized as severe (24.2%), moderate (38.6%) and mild (22.2%) attack frequency, and a chronic pain condition (15%).Pain was cured or improved in about 90% of patients and two-thirds of patients obtained complete symptom relief.Patients with the most frequent pain episodes were less likely to obtain symptom relief.FGID was present in 88% of patients pre-operatively and in 57% postoperatively (P = 0.244).Those that became asymptomatic or improved with regard to pain also had most relief from FGID (P = 0.001).No pre-operative FGID meant almost complete cure. CONCLUSION:Only one third of patients with FGID experienced postoperative relief, indicating that FGID was a dominant cause of post-cholecystectomy symptoms.
Background. The number and rate of cholecystectomy are increasing worldwide, although indications for operative treatment remain empirical, and several issues in the understanding of the condition are not concisely outlined. Our intention is to summarize and interpret current opinion regarding the indications and timing of cholecystectomy in calculous gallbladder disease. Methods. Publications concerned with gallstone disease and related topics were searched for in MEDLINE using PubMed and summarized according to clinical scenarios with an emphasis on recent research. Results. Only one randomized controlled trial has investigated the management (conservative vs. surgery) of patients with acute cholecystitis and several have compared early with deferred surgery. Two RCTs have examined treatment of uncomplicated, symptomatic gallstone disease. Apart from these, the overwhelming majority of publications are retrospective case series. Conclusions. Recent literature confirms that cholecystectomy for an asymptomatic or incidental gallstone is not justified. Symptomatic, uncomplicated gallstone disease may be classified into four severity groups based on severity and frequency of pain attacks, which may guide indication for cholecystectomy. Most patients below the age of 70 seem to prefer operative treatment. Acute cholecystitis may be treated with early operation if reduction of hospital days is an issue. Patients older than 70 years with significant comorbidities may forego surgical treatment without undue hazard. Symptoms following cholecystectomy remain in 25% or more and recent evidence suggest these are caused by a functional gastrointestinal disorder.
Background. Cholecystectomy is routinely recommended to prevent recurrent disease after an initial episode of acute cholecystitis. Therefore, randomized controlled trials have mainly focused on the timing of surgery, but many patients scheduled for cholecystectomy have deferred surgery with long periods of symptom-free intervals. Our present aim is to examine the long-term feasibility and safety of observation compared with surgery. Methods. Trial of 64 patients with acute cholecystitis previously randomized to observation or cholecystectomy, which examined outcome in terms of completed randomized treatment and appearance of further symptoms and the need for surgical treatment. Thirty-three patients were randomized to observation and 31 patients to cholecystectomy. Median follow-up was 14 years. Results. Of the 33 patients randomized to observation, 11 (33%) experienced a new event of gallstone-related disease (eight (24.2%) had acute cholecystitis) and 11 (33%) were operated. No significant difference (p = 0.565) was found between the two randomized groups with regard to recurrent disease or complications. Virtually no surgery took place after 5 years of follow-up. The difference in completed randomized treatment between the groups was not significant (p = 0.077). Long-term mortality was equal in those operated and in those observed. Conclusions. Twenty-four percent of the patients experienced recurrent cholecystitis, but escalation of disease severity or increased mortality was not observed. Long-term observation after acute cholecystitis was feasible in two-thirds of the patients as the risk for recurrent disease was negligible after 5 years.
In recognition of the large burden and economic impact of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), especially in low and middle income countries, the WHO has proposed a goal of an additional 2% reduction in mortality rates per year over current trends, and the United Nations is holding a High level Meeting on NCDs in September, 2011.
Objective
To describe recent NCD mortality trends in Brazil, a middle-income country, taking into account recent improvements in death reporting.
Methods
We obtained ICD-10 coded mortality data from the Brazilian mortality information system and population denominators from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). IBGE enumerated the population in 1996 and 2000, and extrapolated estimates for 2007. We redistributed ill-defined causes of death equally across all non-external cause deaths. We corrected for underreporting of deaths based on the ratio of expected to observed deaths. Expected deaths were estimated by IBGE, on the basis of life table analyses. Mortality rates were age-adjusted to the world population standard.
Results
NCDs now account for 72% of deaths. In unadjusted analyses, corrected NCD mortality rates increased 5% over the 12-year period. Age-adjusted rates declined 1.8%/yr. Declines were greatest for chronic respiratory diseases (2.8%/yr) and cardiovascular diseases (3.5%/yr). Though declines occurred in all regions, 2007 rates are greatest in Brazil9s poorest regions, where diabetes deaths have increased markedly.
Conclusion
The decline in NCD mortality observed in Brazil demonstrates that a 2% decline/year is feasible, and encourages further public health action.