Clinical Challenges in Emergency General Surgery: Open Cholecystectomy - “A Lost Art”
Clinical Challenges in Emergency General Surgery: Open Cholecystectomy - “A Lost Art”  
Podcast: Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
Published On: Thu Aug 07 2025
Description: When the gallbladder turns hostile, sometimes you must do more than just pause—you have to call in a senior partner for help. Join the Behind the Knife EGS team at Mizzou as we dive into the art and grit of open cholecystectomy. From fundus-first dissection to navigating the “barrier to happiness,” this episode is packed with surgical pearls, tough love, and the kind of wisdom only scars can teach.Participants: Dr. Rushabh Dev FACS (Moderator, Surgical Attending) – Assistant Professor of Surgery, Associate PD ACS & SCCM Fellowship, SICU Medical Director, Lieutenant Commander United States Navy Reserve  Dr. Jeffery Coughenour FACS (Surgical Attending) – Professor of Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Trauma Medical Director at the University of Missouri SOM Dr. Christopher Nelson FACS (Surgical Attending) – Associate Professor of Surgery, Medical Director of Emergency General Surgery at the University of Missouri SOM Dr. Micah Ancheta (ACS Fellow) – Major, United States Airforce  Dr. Desra Fletcher (3rd year general surgery resident) Learning Objectives: ·      Recognize Indications for Conversion Identify clinical and intraoperative factors that necessitate conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.·      Apply Risk Stratification Tools Utilize grading systems (e.g., Parkland, Tokyo, AAST) to assess cholecystitis severity and predict surgical difficulty.·      Implement Safe Cholecystectomy Techniques Describe the six steps of the SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program to minimize bile duct injury.·      Understand Bailout Strategies Differentiate between fenestrating and reconstituting subtotal cholecystectomy techniques and their respective risks.·      Master Key Operative Steps Outline the essential components of open cholecystectomy: positioning, incision, exposure, and dissection.·      Navigate High-Risk Anatomy Recognize “zones of danger” and use the B-SAFE mnemonic to reorient and ensure safe progression.·      Develop Intraoperative Judgment Demonstrate when to proceed with subtotal techniques, convert to open, or call for assistance.·      Perform Technical Nuances Safely Identify proper dissection planes, manage gallbladder bed inflammation, and secure cystic structures with confidence.·      Prevent and Manage Complications Understand the risks of bile leaks, bilomas, and subcostal hernias—and how to mitigate them through technique and closure.·      Foster Surgical Maturity Emphasize humility, collaboration, and mentorship in difficult operations—knowing when to ask for help is a skill.References:1.     Dhanasekara, C. S., Shrestha, K., Grossman, H., Garcia, L. M., Maqbool, B., Luppens, C., ... & Dissanaike, S. (2024). A comparison of outcomes including bile duct injury of subtotal cholecystectomy versus open total cholecystectomy as bailout procedures for severe cholecystitis: A multicenter real-world study. Surgery, 176(5), 605–613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2024.03.0572.     Motter, S. B., de Figueiredo, S. M. P., Marcolin, P., Trindade, B. O., Brandao, G. R., & Moffett, J. M. (2024). Fenestrating vs reconstituting laparoscopic subtotal cholecystectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Surgical Endoscopy, 38, 7475–7485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-024-11225-83.     Brunt, L. M., Deziel, D. J., Telem, D. A., Strasberg, S. M., Aggarwal, R., Asbun, H., ... & Stefanidis, D. (2020). Safe cholecystectomy multi-society practice guideline and state of the art consensus conference on prevention of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Surgical Endoscopy.https://www.sages.org/publications/guidelines/safe-cholecystectomy-multi-society-practice-guideline/4.     Elshaer, M., Gravante, G., Thomas, K., Sorge, R., Al-Hamali, S., & Ebdewi, H. (2015). Subtotal cholecystectomy for “difficult gallbladders”: Systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Surgery, 150(2), 159–168. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamasurg.2014.12195.     Koo, S. S. J., Krishnan, R. J., Ishikawa, K., Matsunaga, M., Ahn, H. J., Murayama, K. M., & Kitamura, R. K. (2024). Subtotal vs total cholecystectomy for difficult gallbladders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Surgery, 229(1), 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2023.12.0226.     Strasberg, S. M., Pucci, M. J., Brunt, L. M., & Deziel, D. J. (2016). Subtotal cholecystectomy—“Fenestrating” vs “reconstituting” subtypes and the prevention of bile duct injury: Definition of the optimal procedure in difficult operative conditions. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 222(1), 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.09.0197.     Ahmed, O., & Walsh, T. N. (2020). Surgical trainee experience with open cholecystectomy and the Dunning-Kruger effect. Journal of Surgical Education.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.03.0258.     Seshadri, A., & Peitzman, A. B. (2024). The difficult cholecystectomy: What you need to know. The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 97(3), 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.00000000000041569.     Invited commentary on “A comparison of outcomes including bile duct injury of subtotal cholecystectomy versus open total cholecystectomy as bailout procedures for severe cholecystitis: A multicenter real-world study”. (2024). Surgery, 176(5), 614–615. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2024.05.003Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.  If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen