For safe and fast surgery: Utilization of the SAND balloon catheter for acute cholecystitis

Abstract

Background: The utility of the SAND balloon catheter in laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (AC) remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent emergency cholecystectomy at Shinshu University was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the SAND balloon catheter in cases of AC (SAND balloon utilization: Group S, n = 44; non-utilization: Group non-S, n = 47). Results: The duration of surgery was significantly shorter in Group S than in Group non-S (p =.031). Despite comparable incidences of blood transfusions in the two groups, intraoperative blood loss was significantly less in Group S than in Group non-S (p =.013). The incidence of postoperative intraperitoneal infection tended to be higher in Group non-S (p =.076). Within Group non-S, bile spillage during operation was found in 16 (34.0%) patients. The multivariate analysis revealed that gangrenous AC was the strongest independent risk factor for bile spillage during operation (odds ratio [OR]: 19.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.84–78.4; p =.002), followed by surgeons with ≤10 years of experience (OR: 11.3; 95% CI: 1.81–70.6; p