EDI&S SO06 Do All Patients with Biliary Problems Need Surgery? Applying C-Gall Study Results to Long Waiters for Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract Background The recent C-GALL study, a multi-centre randomised trial, found no significant difference in quality of life at two years between operative and non-operative management of uncomplicated gallstone disease. This suggests some patients may not benefit from elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), potentially leading to over-listing for surgery. By identifying patients who may no longer need surgery, we could reduce waiting lists and improve resource allocation. This study aims to reassess patients with an enforced period of observation on an elective waiting list for LC, to determine if they wish to make a different decision about proceeding with surgery. Method Patients listed for an elective LC who had been waiting longer than 11 months from referral were reviewed. Patients were contacted through telephone clinics by a surgeon. Data was collected on type of gallstone disease, history of abdominal surgery, biliary pain since last seen by a clinician, pain radiation to the back, pain reduction with simple analgesia, nausea, and heartburn. Identified patients were contacted and, if exhibiting minimal or no symptoms, were offered the option to be removed from the waiting list with 12 months of patient-initiated follow-up and high priority relisting if their clinical condition worsened. Results We contacted 59 patients awaiting elective LC Most were female (49, 83%), had biliary colic (43, 73%), and were under 60 years old (38, 64%). Seventeen patients (29%) were happy to opt out due to lack of symptoms. Of these, 13 (76%) were female, 11 (65%) had biliary colic, and 7 (41%) were under 60. Chi-squared analysis identified age as the only predictive factor, with those under 60 being less likely to opt out (p=0.038). We will continue to monitor representation and the need for reoperation to ensure safety and the findings remain consistent overtime. Conclusion The study demonstrates that a significant proportion of patients awaiting elective LC can be safely managed without planned cholecystectomy, potentially reducing waiting lists, cost and utilisation of healthcare resources. We would advise considering review of long waiters to re-evaluate their clinical need for cholecystectomy in order to improve sustainability within surgery. These findings support a more personalised approach to managing biliary pain, prioritising patients for surgery based on symptom severity.