Background: International consensus on the ideal outcome for treatment of uncomplicated symptomatic gallstone disease is absent. This mixed-method study defined a Textbook Outcome (TO) for this large group of patients.Methods: First, expert meetings were organised with stakeholders to design the survey and identify possible outcomes. To reach consensus, results from expert meetings were converted in a survey for clinicians and for patients. During the final expert meeting, clinicians and patients discussed survey outcomes and a definitive TO was formulated. Subsequently, TO-rate and hospital variation were analysed in Dutch hospital data from patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease.Results: First expert meetings returned 32 outcomes. Outcomes were distributed in a survey among 830 clinicians from 81 countries and 645 Dutch patients. Consensus-based TO was defined as no more biliary colic, no biliary and surgical complications, and the absence or reduction of abdominal pain. Analysis of individual patient data showed that TO was achieved in 64.2% (1002/1561). Adjusted-TOConclusion: TO for treatment of uncomplicated gallstone disease was defined as no more biliary colic, no biliary and surgical complications, and absence or reduction of abdominal pain.TO may optimise consistent outcome reporting in care and guidelines for treating uncomplicated gallstone disease.

Background: The applicability of the recently reported predictors to predict pain reduction after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is limited by only predicting short-term outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop and externally validate a model to predict clinically relevant pain reduction 5 years after LC. Materials and Methods: This study reports on 5-year follow-up data of two multicenter prospective trials in 25 hospitals. Only patients who underwent LC were included. The model was developed using data from the SUCCESS cohort ( n = 494) and externally validated using data from the SECURE trial ( n = 1067). Both studies applied identical inclusion criteria for patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis. The model was developed using multivariable logistic regression and internally validated using bootstrapping and subsequently validated externally. Model performance was evaluated using discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis. Results: A total of 1561 patients were included of which 1240 (79.4%) who had received LC after 5-year follow-up; 746 of 1240 patients (70.2%) reported a clinically relevant pain reduction. A multivariable model showed that male sex, increased Visual Analog Scale pain score at baseline, pain radiating to the back, nausea, with absence of obstipation, diarrhea, and postprandial bloating were independent predictors for long-term clinically relevant pain reduction. External validation indicated good discrimination and calibration between patients with and without clinically relevant pain reduction (C-statistic, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.70–0.79). Conclusion: In this study, we developed and validated a model for predicting long-term clinically relevant pain reduction after LC. The model may serve as an instrument to improve patient selection for surgery and may enhance shared decision making.

This study aimed to quantify the confirmation of gallstones on ultrasound (US) in patients with suspicion of gallstone disease. To aid general practitioners (GPs) in diagnostic workup, a model to predict gallstones was developed. A prospective cohort study was conducted in two Dutch general hospitals. Patients (≥18 years) were eligible for inclusion when referred by GPs for US with suspicion of gallstones. The primary outcome was the confirmation of gallstones on US. A multivariable regression model was developed to predict the presence of gallstones. In total, 177 patients were referred with a clinical suspicion of gallstones. Gallstones were found in 64 of 177 patients (36.2%). Patients with gallstones reported higher pain scores (VAS 8.0 vs. 6.0, p < 0.001), less frequent pain (21.9% vs. 54.9%, p < 0.001), and more often met criteria for biliary colic (62.5% vs. 44.2%, p = 0.023). Predictors for the presence of gallstones were a higher pain score, frequency of pain less than weekly, biliary colic, and an absence of heartburn. The model showed good discrimination between patients with and without gallstones (C-statistic 0.73, range: 0.68–0.76). Clinical diagnosis of symptomatic gallstone disease is challenging. The model developed in this study may aid in the selection of patients for referral and improve treatment related outcomes.

Background: A textbook outcome for the management of uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis is the targeted clinical scenario and is characterized by no recurrent biliary colic, absence of surgical and biliary complications, and absence or relief of abdominal pain. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of textbook outcomes after cholecystectomy and identify associated baseline factors. Methods: Patients from 2 Dutch multicenter prospective trials between 2014 and 2019 (SECURE and SUCCESS trial) were included. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with textbook outcomes after cholecystectomy at 6-month follow-up. Regression analysis was used to identify which factors before surgery were associated with textbook outcomes. Results: A total of 1,124 patients underwent cholecystectomy. A textbook outcome at 6-month follow-up was reached in 67.9% of patients. Persistent abdominal pain was the main reason for the failure to achieve textbook outcome. Patients who did achieve textbook outcomes more often reported severe pain attacks (89.4% vs 81.7%, P < .001) and/or biliary colic (78.6% vs 68.4%, P < .001) at baseline compared with patients without textbook outcomes. The presence of biliary colic at baseline (odds ratio = 1.56, 95% confidence interval: 1.16-2.09, P = .003) and nausea/vomiting at baseline (odds ratio = 1.33, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.74, P = .039) were associated with textbook outcome. The use of non-opioid analgesics (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.58-0.99, P = .043) and pain frequency >= 1/ month (odds ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval: 0.43-0.73, P < .001) were negatively associated with textbook outcome. Conclusion: Textbook outcome is achieved in two-thirds of patients who undergo cholecystectomy for uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis. Intensity and frequency of pain, presence of biliary colic, and nausea/ vomiting at baseline are independently associated with achieving textbook outcomes. A more stringent selection of patients may optimize the textbook outcome rate in patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).