Gallstone Pancreatitis: Clinical outcomes and economic impact at a tertiary UK Hepatobiliary centre.

Publication date: Dec 14, 2025

Gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) accounts for nearly 50 % of acute pancreatitis admissions in the NHS. Post-COVID-19 delays in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) have amplified the clinical and financial burden. This study evaluates outcomes and preventable costs associated with GSP at a UK tertiary centre. A prospective cohort of 185 GSP patients was analysed over 30 months at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Patients were stratified into three age groups: 20-49, 50-69, and ≥70 years. Data included demographics, disease severity, LC timing, readmissions, and healthcare costs. The median length of hospital stay was 4 days (IQR: 2-7), increasing slightly with age and disease severity. Severe pancreatitis occurred in 29. 2 % of patients aged ≥70. ICU admissions were highest in the 50-69 years group (9. 7 %), with mortality and complication rates peaking in those ≥70 years (16. 7 % and 19. 4 %, respectively). Median LC waiting times increased through age groups: 61. 0, 100. 0, and 272. 0 days, respectively. Readmission rates rose progressively with age, reaching 43. 1 % in the oldest group. Delays beyond 121 days were associated with higher readmission risk. Hot cholecystectomy was most frequent in younger patients (15. 7 %). The total cost of inpatient care for GSP reached lb1. 12 million (median cost of lb6663 per patient). Readmissions accounted for 58 % of the total cost (lb4250 per episode). Readmission-related expenditure, largely preventable with timely surgery, represents a key target for intervention. Prioritising early cholecystectomy, particularly within 121 days of index admission, may substantially reduce the financial burden and improve patient outcomes across the NHS.

Semantics

Original Article