Liver function tests as predictors of common bile duct stones in acute cholecystitis patients with a chronic history: A retrospective cohort study on the ACS-NSQIP database

Liver function tests (LFTs) use for common bile duct stone (CBDS) prediction in acute cholecystitis (AC) patients is challenging, especially in patients with chronic cholecystitis (CC) history. This study aims to describe characteristics of AC patients with CC history and assess LFTs’ utility for CBDS prediction in these patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adults with a diagnosis of AC and CC history included in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database from 2008 to 2016. Patients were categorized into CBDS- (without CBDS) and CBDS+ (with CBDS). Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine CBDS predictors. This study included 7458 patients, of which 40.2% were CBDS+. CBDS+ patients were more commonly females (64.4% vs 54.7%, P < .001). Mean levels of bilirubin (1.70 vs 0.90, P < .001), SGOT (105.9 vs 49.0, P < .001) and ALP (164.6 vs 103.8, P < .001) were significantly higher among CBDS+ patients. Significant positive predictors of CBDS were female gender, increased BMI, and abnormal bilirubin, ALP and SGOT. AC patients with CC history are more likely to have CBDS. Abnormal LFTs are significantly associated with CBDS in this patient population. Familiarity with these findings can help raise clinical suspicion of providers for earlier evaluation and management of CBDS.