34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Etiopathogenesis of gallbladder mucocele (GBM) is unknown, although different predisposing factors are recognized. This condition can result in a surgical emergency due to gallbladder rupture and bile peritonitis. Historically, cholecystectomy was associated with high mortality. Recent studies investigate mortality rate between elective and emergency procedures (2-6% and 20-23% respectively) and multiple prognostic factors. The aim of the present study was to retrospective evaluate which prognostic factors were associated with the survival time and the mortality rate at various postoperative intervals, following cholecystectomy for GBM. 

Methods:

Medical records of dogs that underwent cholecystectomy for GBM, in a single institution, between January 2016 and December 2022 were reviewed. Correlations were analyzed through Fisher exact tests with FDR correction.

Results:

Forty-one dogs met the inclusion criteria, 3 (7%) died in the perioperative period, 6 (14%) died in the first 20 days after surgery. Dogs with high levels of C-reactive protein (P=0.01), lymphopenia (P=0.01), abdominal effusion (P=0.05) and necrotising cholecystitis (P=0.05) were strongly associated with death before hospital discharge.  Patients with these conditions have 83%, 50%, 43% and 43% of possibility to die within 20 days from surgery, respectively. The mortality rate and survival time were not associated with elective or emergency procedures.

Conclusions:

Lymphopenia, elevated C-reactive protein, and abdominal effusion secondary to gallbladder rupture emerged as potential negative prognostic factors in dogs with GBM, suggesting the value of assessing these indicators preoperatively. Identifying these factors may better inform clinicians in treatment planning and discussions with pet owners.