Unraveling factors associated with textbook outcome after cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated cholecystolithiasis: A posthoc analysis of individual data of 1,124 patients.

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.