Call for action:Increased healthcare utilization with growing use of percutaneous cholecystectomy tube over initial cholecystectomy in cirrhotics

Background:Acute calculous cholecystitis(ACC)is frequently seen in cirrhotics,with some being poor candidates for initial cholecystectomy.Instead,these patients may undergo percutaneous cholecystostomy tube(PCT)placement.We studied the healthcare utilization and predictors of cholecystectomy and PCT in patients with ACC.Methods:The National Database was queried to study all cirrhotics and non-cirrhotics with ACC between 2010-2014 who underwent initial PCT(with or without follow-up cholecystectomy)or cholecystectomy.Cirrhotic patients were divided into compensated and decompensated cirrhosis.Independent predictors and outcomes of initial PCT and failure to undergo subsequent cholecystectomy were studied.Results:Out of 919189 patients with ACC,13283(1.4%)had cirrhosis.Among cirrhotics,cholecystec-tomy was performed in 12790(96.3%)and PCT in the remaining 493(3.7%).PCT was more frequent in cirrhotics(3.7%)than in non-cirrhotics(1.4%).Multivariate analyses showed increased early readmis-sions[odds ratio(OR)=2.12,95%confidence interval(CI):1.43-3.13,P<0.001],length of stay(effect ratio=1.39,95%CI:1.20-1.61,P<0.001),calendar-year hospital cost(effect ratio=1.34,95%CI:1.28-1.39,P<0.001)and calendar-year mortality(hazard ratio=1.89,95%CI:1.07-3.29,P=0.030)in cir-rhotics undergoing initial PCT compared to cholecystectomy.Decompensated cirrhosis(OR=2.25,95%CI:1.67-3.03,P<0.001)had the highest odds of getting initial PCT.Cirrhosis,regardless of compensated(OR=0.56,95%CI:0.34-0.90,P=0.020)or decompensated(OR=0.28,95%CI:0.14-0.59,P<0.001),reduced the chances of getting a subsequent cholecystectomy.Conclusions:Cirrhotic patients undergo fewer cholecystectomy incurring initial PCT instead.Moreover,the rates of follow-up cholecystectomy are lower in cirrhotics.Increased healthcare utilization is seen with initial PCT amongst cirrhotic patients.This situation reflects suboptimal management of ACC in cirrhotics and a call for action.

Cystic fibrosis patients on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator modulators have a reduced incidence of cirrhosis

BACKGROUND Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator(CFTR)modulators significantly improve pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis(CF)but the effect on hepatobiliary outcomes remains unknown.We hypothesized that CF patients on CFTR modulators would have a decreased incidence of cirrhosis compared to patients not on CFTR modulators or on ursodiol.AIM To investigate the effect of CFTR modulators on the development of cirrhosis in patients with CF.METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed using Truven MarketScan from January 2012 through December 2017 including all patients with a diagnosis of CF.Patients were excluded if they underwent a liver transplantation or if they had other etiologies of liver disease including viral hepatitis or alcohol use.Subjects were grouped by use of CFTR modulators,ursodiol,dual therapy,or no therapy.The primary outcome was development of cirrhosis.Kaplan-Meier curves estimated the incidence of cirrhosis and log-rank tests compared incidence curves between treatment groups.RESULTS A total of 7201 patients were included,of which 955(12.6%)used a CFTR modulator,529(7.0%)used ursodiol,105(1.4%)used combination therapy,and 5612(74.3%)used neither therapy.The incidence of cirrhosis was 0.1%at 1 year and 0.7%at 4 years in untreated patients,5.9%and 10.1%in the Ursodiol group,and 1.0%and 1.0%in patients who received both therapies.No patient treated with CFTR modulators alone developed cirrhosis.Patients on CFTR modulators alone had lower cirrhosis incidence than untreated patients(P=0.05),patients on Ursodiol(P<0.001),and patients on dual therapy(P=0.003).The highest incidence of cirrhosis was found among patients treated with Ursodiol alone,compared to untreated patients(P<0.001)or patients on Ursodiol and CFTR modulators(P=0.01).CONCLUSION CFTR modulators are associated with a reduction in the incidence of cirrhosis compared to other therapies in patients with CF.