OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a risk factor for several phenotypes such as gallstones, metabolic syndrome (MS), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It has been suggested that cholecystectomy is a risk factor for metabolic abnormalities and NAFLD. We aimed to determine whether cholecystectomy is associated with MS or NAFLD in a Dutch population-based study. METHODS: The Rotterdam Study is an ongoing prospective population-based cohort. We included participants who underwent a liver ultrasound between 2009 and 2014 to assess steatosis. The prevalence of MS and NAFLD was calculated, and we performed regression analyses relating cholecystectomy with MS and NAFLD and adjusted for age, sex, study cohort, education level, physical activity, energy intake, time since cholecystectomy, body mass index, presence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and steatosis/MS. RESULTS: We included 4,307 participants (57.5% women, median age 66.0 years [interquartile range 58–74]). In total, 265 participants (6.2%) underwent a cholecystectomy. The median age at the time of cholecystectomy was 57.0 years (47.5–66.5), and the median time from cholecystectomy to imaging of the liver was 10.0 years (0.5–19.5). The prevalence of MS in participants with cholecystectomy was 67.2% and 51.9% in participants without cholecystectomy (P < 0.001). Ultrasound diagnosed moderate/severe NAFLD was present in, respectively, 42.7% and 34.2% of the participants (P = 0.008). After multivariable adjustments for metabolic factors, cholecystectomy was no longer associated with the presence of MS or NAFLD. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of MS and NAFLD is higher in participants after cholecystectomy. However, our trial shows that cholecystectomy may not be independently associated with the presence of MS and NAFLD after correction for metabolic factors.

Background: There is a lack of consensus in selecting patients who do or do not benefit from surgery when patients present with abdominal pain and gallbladder stones are present. This review aimed to give an overview of results from recent trials and available literature to improve treatment decisions in patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis. Methods: First, an overview of different symptom criteria for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis is given, based on national and international guidelines. Second, treatment outcomes (absence of biliary colic, pain-free state, biliary and surgical complications) are summarized, with data from three clinical trials. Finally, personal advice for treatment decisions in patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis is provided, based on recent trials, the available literature, and expert opinion. Results: This review describes different guidelines and criteria sets for uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis, provides an overview of outcomes after cholecystectomy, and advises on treatment decisions in patients with abdominal pain and gallbladder stones. After cholecystectomy, biliary colic is resolved in 95 per cent of patients. However, non-specific abdominal pain persists in 40 per cent. Irritable bowel syndrome and functional dyspepsia significantly increase the risk of persistent pain. Age, previous abdominal surgery, baseline pain score on a visual analogue scale, pain characteristics, nausea, and heartburn are part of the SUCCESS criteria, and are associated with clinically relevant pain reduction after gallbladder removal. Conclusion: The surgical community can now give more personalized advice on surgery to improve care for patients with abdominal pain and uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis.

Background: For both gallbladder removal and inguinal hernia repair, it is important to include patients’ perspective in the decision‐making process, as watchful waiting is an accepted alternative in selected patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate operation rates before and after implementation of decision aids (DAs) and to assess patient compliance with the use of DAs.Methods: A single‐centered retrospective study was performed, including all patients ≥18 years referred to the surgical outpatient clinic with symptomatic gallstones or an inguinal hernia between January 2014 and December 2017. Operation rates before and after implementation of DAs (December 2015) were compared. In addition, patient compliance with the use of DAs and satisfaction with final treatment were assessed.Results: Overall, 1625 patients with gallstones and 1798 patients with an inguinal hernia were included. After implementation, DAs were provided to 512 patients (63.1%) with gallstones of whom 80.7% (413/512) used the DA and to 528 patients (58.8%) with an inguinal hernia, which was used by 80.7% (426/528). Before implementation, the operation rate in patients with gallstones was 72.0% (586/814) and after implementation 56.7% (460/811) (− 15.3%, p < 0.001). The operation rate in patients with an inguinal hernia decreased from 77.8% (700/900) to 64.6% (580/898) (− 13.2%, p < 0.001). Patient satisfaction with final treatment was high (9/10).Conclusion: Implementation of DAs in the surgical outpatient clinic for patients with gallstones or an inguinal hernia is associated with reduced elective operation rates and is associated with high DA compliance.

Background: Inguinal hernia repair has often been used as a showcase to illustrate practice variation in surgery. This study determined the degree of hospital variation in proportion of patients with an inguinal hernia undergoing operative repair and the effect of this variation on clinical outcomes. Methods: A nationwide, longitudinal, database study was performed in all hospitals in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2015. Patients with inguinal hernias were collected from the Diagnosis-Related-Group (DRG) database. The case-mix adjusted operation rate in patients with a new DRG determines the observed variation. Hospital variation in case-mix adjusted inguinal hernia repair-rates was calculated per year. Clinical outcomes after surgery were compared between hospitals with high and low adjusted operation-rates. Results: In total, 95,637 patients were included. The overall operation rate was 71.6%. In 2013–2015, the case-mix adjusted performance of inguinal hernia repairs in hospitals with high rates was 1.6–1.9 times higher than in hospitals with low rates. Moreover, in hospitals with high adjusted rates of inguinal hernia repair the time to surgery was shorter, more laparoscopic procedures were performed, less emergency department visits were recorded post-operatively, while more emergency department visits were recorded when patients were treated conservatively compared to hospitals with low adjusted operation rates. Conclusion: Hospital variation in inguinal hernia repair in the Netherlands is modest, operation-rates vary by less than two-fold, and variation is stable over time. Hernia repair in hospitals with high adjusted rates of inguinal hernia repair are associated with improved outcomes.

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.

Objective: To investigate the association between patients' preferred treatment and eventual treatment. Second, to compare patients with surgical treatment to watchful waiting in order to identify predictive factors for surgery.Methods: A single‐centre retrospective study was performed between December 2015 and August 2018. Patients (≥18 years) who used a patient decision aid (PDA) for gallstones or inguinal hernia were included. After their first surgical consultation, patients received access to an online PDA. The patients' preferred treatment after the PDA was compared with their choice of eventual treatment. Multivariable regression analyses were performed for predictive factors for surgery.Results: In total, 567 patients with gallstones and 585 patients with an inguinal hernia were included. Of the patients with gallstones, 121 (21%) preferred watchful waiting, 367 (65%) preferred surgery, and 79 (14%) were not sure. The patients' preferred treatment was performed in 85.9%. Frequent pain attacks (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1‐3.9, P = .020) and preference for surgery (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9‐10.1, P = .001) independently predicted surgery. Of the patients with an inguinal hernia, 77 (13.2%) preferred watchful waiting, 452 (78.8%) preferred surgery, and 56 (9.6%) were not sure. The patients' preferred treatment was performed in 86.0%. The preference for surgery (OR 5.2, 95% CI 2.5‐10.6, P < .001) independently predicted surgery and worry about complications predicted avoidance of surgery (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.2‐1.0, P = .037).Conclusion: This study, reflecting current clinical care, shows that patients' preferred treatment after using a PDA matches their eventual treatment choice in 86% of patients with gallstones or an inguinal hernia. In these patients, symptoms and patients' preference for surgery independently predicts eventual choice of surgery.