Increased Morbidity and One-Year Post-Discharge Mortality in Patients with Bacteremia Undergoing Emergent Cholecystectomy: An Exploratory Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Gallbladder disease, one of the most common diseases in the United States, ranges from symptomatic gallstones to severe systemic infections from cholangitis. Little research is available on how often patients undergoing emergent cholecystectomy also have bacteremia. We hypothesized that blood cultures would be performed rarely in patients undergoing emergent cholecystectomy, and that positive cultures would be associated with worse outcomes. Methods: Exploratory retrospective observational cohort study of patients admitted to a single institution from January 17, 2011, to December 31, 2018, and undergoing emergent cholecystectomy by acute care surgeons within ∼72 hours, or three days, of admission. Analyses included descriptive and by-variable statistics, binary logistic regression, and negative binomial regression. Results: Of 892 patients undergoing emergent cholecystectomy, 145 (16.2%) had blood cultures obtained three days before or on the day of surgery, of whom 33 (22.8%) had at least one positive blood culture. Male and older patients had significantly higher rates of blood cultures being obtained. One-year post-discharge mortality and complication rates were significantly higher in those with blood cultures. Versus patients with negative blood cultures, those with positive cultures were significantly older and had higher rates of sepsis and septicemia, longer hospital stays, lower rates of being discharged home, and higher one-year post-discharge mortality rates (18.2% vs. 6.3%). Cholangitis, accounting for 29% of positive blood cultures, was diagnosed in 4.5% of emergent cholecystectomies performed. Gram-negative Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria isolates. Conclusions: Positive blood cultures were associated with significantly worse patient outcomes. Surgeons performing emergent cholecystectomies could consider implementing blood culture protocols to better identify patients at risk for greater hospital morbidity and post-discharge mortality.