Middle-grade led Expedited Gall bladder lists: Is it safe and feasible?

Abstract

Introduction: Gallstone-related acute admissions account for a significant percentage of acute general surgery admissions. Providing a dedicated expedited gall bladder list service to deal with these cases appears to be not only clinically effective but also cost-effective. There are various logistical reasons why hospitals are unable to provide such dedicated lists, inadequate surgical staff being one of them. We initiated a middle-grade-led expedited gall bladder list with indirect consultant oversight at our hospital as a consultant-led list was not feasible. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of this service post-implementation.

Patients and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on prospectively collected data from February 2022 to September 2023. Patients were triaged using a dedicated questionnaire and operated on within 2-8 weeks of admission. The outcomes measured included complications, readmissions and the need for consultant opinion and assistance.

Results: Amongst 101 patients, the mean age was 50.59 ± 15.25 years, with a majority being female and having an American Society of Anaesthesiologists grade of 2. Consultant assistance was required in 14 cases, with 9 requiring active participation. Complications were comparable to national averages, with four cases of bile leaks and one small bowel injury. Six readmissions were recorded for various postoperative issues.

Conclusion: The middle-grade led expedited gall bladder service demonstrated a safe and effective alternative to consultant-led lists, offering a pragmatic approach to addressing surgical demands within the constraints of staff and facility limitations.