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A Simple Effective Method for Generation of

a Permanent Record of the Critical View of Safety


during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy by
Intraoperative “Doublet” Photography
Dominic E Sanford, MD, Steven M Strasberg, MD, FACS

BACKGROUND: The Critical View of Safety (CVS) is an established method for identifying the cystic duct
during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Its goal is to prevent misidentification of the bile ducts
and avoid biliary injury. However, a visual record of CVS is not usually made. Intraoperative
photography has the potential to record CVS and increase the safety of laparoscopic chole-
cystectomy. The objective of this study was to develop a simple and effective technique for
recording CVS during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
STUDY DESIGN: Techniques for photographing and rating photographs of CVS were developed. Surgeons
were trained in methods of photographing both anterior and posterior views of CVS during
laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Independent observers scored these views individually and
together. The term doublet view was used when both anterior and posterior views of CVS
were used for rating. Three criteria for CVS were used for scoring photographs. A total score
of 5 of 6 points was considered satisfactory, and a total score <5 of 6 points was considered
unsatisfactory.
RESULTS: Photographs of 28 patients were obtained. Critical View of Safety photographs were satisfac-
tory in either anterior or posterior single images in 43 of 56 (76.8%) instances, and doublet
photographs were satisfactory in 27 of 28 (96.4%) instances (p ¼ 0.02). Body mass index >40
predicted a higher likelihood of unsatisfactory individual CVS photos (p ¼ 0.02); however,
there was no correlation between patient or pathologic factors and the scores of doublet views.
CONCLUSIONS: With training and adherence to straightforward photographic techniques, intraoperative
doublet photography can record CVS accurately. This method is performed easily, and could
be used for recording of CVS in the medical record. (J Am Coll Surg 2014;218:170e178.
 2014 by the American College of Surgeons)

The Critical View of Safety (CVS) is a method for identi- injury due to misidentification occur.3-7 A recent review
fying the cystic duct and artery during laparoscopic chole- concluded that CVS should be considered the gold stan-
cystectomy.1,2 Its goal is to prevent misidentification of the dard among operative techniques for assessment of biliary
common bile duct or aberrant ducts as the cystic duct and anatomy during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.8 Yet,
avoid biliary injury. Several groups from the United States despite the adoption of CVS as a mandatory step in lapa-
and Europe have evaluated its use in thousands of patients roscopic cholecystectomy by the Dutch Society of
and have attested to its value in this regard.3-7 In none Surgery,8 biliary injuries continue to occur at a considerable
of the patients in whom CVS was used did a bile duct rate in the Netherlands8 and elsewhere.9 Therefore, there
might be a difference between the use of CVS in the hands
Disclosure Information: Nothing to disclose. of interested specialists3-7 and its value when used by
Received September 16, 2013; Revised November 2, 2013; Accepted a broad range of surgeons, many of whom work in smaller
November 4, 2013. hospitals.8 A major problem in determining the reason for
From the Section of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Department of
Surgery, Washington University in St Louis and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, this discrepancy is that, with the exception of the
St Louis, MO. Netherlands, there is usually no visual record that CVS
Correspondence address: Steven M Strasberg, MD, FACS, Section of has actually been attained. This is unlike operative cholan-
Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington
University in St Louis, 4990 Children’s Pl, Suite 1160, Box 8109, St Louis, giography, another method of identifying biliary anatomy,
MO 63110. email: strasbergs@wustl.edu in which images are routinely recorded.

ª 2014 by the American College of Surgeons ISSN 1072-7515/13/$36.00


Published by Elsevier Inc. 170 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2013.11.003
Vol. 218, No. 2, February 2014 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety 171

Table 1. Method for Taking Still Photographs of the Critical Then, surgeons who use CVS routinely were trained in
View of Safety these photographic methods. They were asked to photo-
1. Use 30-degree laparoscope. graph anterior and posterior views of CVS during laparo-
2. White balance camera system. scopic cholecystectomies. Then, the anterior and
3. Optimize lighting to reduce glare. posterior views were presented separately and in combina-
4. Dissect to the Critical View of Safety (CVS). Clean the cystic tion (doublet view) to 2 raters who scored how effectively
structures so that they appear tubular and with little or no the still photographs captured CVS.
extraneous material. The bottom one third of the cystic plate
should be visible. When rotating the bottom end of the gall-
bladder back and forth with a grasper to see the front and the METHODS
back of the hepatocystic triangle the CVS should be clearly
visible.
Standard methodology for obtaining still
photographs of the Critical View of Safety
5. Position gallbladder and ducts with graspers to see dissected
hepatocystic triangle from an anterior view. Laparoscope should Intraoperative laparoscopic photography is commonly
be positioned so that the cystic duct and artery do not overlap. performed for teaching purposes and the ability to do
There should be a clear view of the space between the back of the so is engineered into most modern laparoscopic camera
cystic artery and the cystic plate so that the cystic plate is clearly systems. We have gained experience in photographing
visible. A third grasper can be used to help position structures.
The 30-degree feature on the laparoscope can be used to provide
CVS for a number of years.10 In an earlier study, it
a view from the left that can enhance the separation of seemed much easier to make a judgment about CVS
structures. when more than one still photograph was available for
6. The view on the screen should include enough of the gallbladder review.10 For this reason, this study was designed to deter-
to allow orientation. This usually means including the lower one mine whether CVS was captured best by an anterior view,
half of the gallbladder. Just before taking the picture, suction a posterior view, or both views in combination, that is,
field clean of blood and tissue fluid. Optimize focus. a “doublet” view. Based on our earlier study and subse-
7. Take anterior picture. Check pictures on inset on screen if quent attempts at photographing the CVS, a new tech-
available to be sure that the 3 criteria for CVS have been
captured.
nique for taking photos of the CVS was developed. The
8. Re-position gallbladder to show the posterior view of the hep- 8-step technique is described in detail in Table 1. Impor-
atocystic triangle. Rotate the laparoscope to optimize the view tantly, the operator should be sure that CVS can be seen
from the right to attain maximal separation of structures as clearly from in front and behind by swinging the lower
above. Take posterior picture. end of the gallbladder back and forth before attempting
to take photographs. The common hepatic duct and
Dutch surgeons have led the way in determining the best common bile duct do not need to be seen. To obtain
methods for recording CVS.10-14 They have evaluated oper- context, the whole hepatocystic triangle and the lower
ative notes, still photographs, and video recordings and one half of the gallbladder should be in the frame of
concluded that video recordings are the best of the 3 the photograph. Anterior and posterior views are taken.
approaches. We too found that short videos seemed to Also, a list of common problems encountered when
be a better way to evaluate whether CVS has been attained taking photos was compiled and example pictures illus-
than still photographs in a study on single-incision chole- trating these avoidable problems were obtained (Fig. 1).
cystectomy.10 However, video recordings are more expen-
sive and logistically difficult to store than still photographs. Study procedure
Therefore, creating and storing a visual record of CVS Seven surgeons in the sections of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary
would be facilitated by a method that was simple and inex- Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery in our institution,
pensive. In addition, although video recordings of CVS are who regularly perform laparoscopic cholecystectomy at
likely to always be better than still photographs, there has a rate >10 cases per year, were the subjects of the study.
not been an attempt to optimize the technique for photo- All of these surgeons use CVS for anatomical identification.
graphing CVS to determine how effective still photos The study was approved by our institutional IRB, and both
might actually be for that purpose. patients and surgeons were consented. No surgeon who was
The aim of this study was to determine if use of approached refused to participate. Surgeons were briefed
a simple standard technique for taking photographs of on the purpose of the trial. They were then trained in the
CVS during laparoscopic cholecystectomy would result methods described here (Table 1) and shown examples of
in satisfactory recording of CVS. First, a standard method good and poor photographs (Fig. 1) at a conference
of obtaining high-quality photographs was developed convened for this purpose or instructed individually.
along with a scoring system for assessing the photographs. Surgeons were also provided with a primer for taking
172 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety J Am Coll Surg

Figure 1. Common problems encountered when taking photographs of the Critical View of Safety. (A) Poor focus, (B)
too dark, (C) too bright, (D) too far, (E) too close, perspective lost, and (F) instrument obscures view.

photographs of the CVS with examples of desirable and doublet view, that is, both pictures at the same time. In
undesirable features. The primer is included as Supple- our earlier study, we used a scoring system based on the
mental Materials to the online version of this article (avail- 3 criteria of CVS (ie, clear hepatocystic triangle; lower
able at: http://www.journalacs.org) and contains Table 1 part of gallbladder dissected off the cystic plate; and 2
and pictures from Figure 1 as well as other information. and only 2 structures entering the gallbladder).10 In that
The rating system described here was also explained to study, each of the criteria were noted either to be achieved
the participating surgeons so that they were aware of how or not.10 However, it was thought at the time that a more
still photos taken by them would be scored by the referees. nuanced evaluation might be possible. For the purposes of
Photographs were obtained at elective laparoscopic this study, a modified scoring system for the 3 criteria for
cholecystectomy once the surgeon had displayed the CVS was developed, the details of which are provided in
CVS. Anterior and posterior views were obtained using Table 2. In brief, 2 points were awarded for a criterion
the described methods and stored electronically. Surgeons when it was obvious immediately on viewing the photo-
used either Karl Storz HD H3-Z or Stryker 1288 HD 3- graph that the criterion was fulfilled (Table 2). One point
Chip laparoscopic cameras to obtain photographs during was given when study of the photograph showed the crite-
the study. Photographs made by individual surgeons were rion was fulfilled, but the view was less than optimal. No
scored periodically to determine when surgeons reached points were given for lesser results. The scores for each of
a “plateau” in their score on the doublet view. A plateau the 3 criteria were added. The range of possible scores
was declared when 4 consecutive scores differed by 1 point was from 0 to 6. Each photographic view (ie, anterior,
or less in the rating system. Once a plateau was reached, posterior, and doublet view) was rated. Doublets were
that surgeon was considered to have completed the study. judged as a unit, and criteria could be satisfied either in
Participating patients were patients of any age under- one or both images of the doublet to obtain the maximum
going laparoscopic cholecystectomy who were willing to points. In other words, if 1 of the 3 requirements for CVS
be involved in the study and were patients of participating was reached in only one view of a doublet, and the other 2
surgeons. In this study protocol, photographs were not to criteria were achieved only in the other view, a maximum
be taken in cases in which CVS was not attained, for of 6 points would still be awarded. Therefore, for each
example, due to conversion to open procedure, but the cholecystectomy performed, the photographs received 3
cause of failure was recorded. separate ratings for the anterior view, posterior view, and
doublet view.
Rating of photographs The views were independently rated by 2 individuals,
For the purposes of scoring, the raters were presented with a hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon (SMS) and a research
the anterior view of the CVS, the posterior view, and the fellow (DES), to obtain a mean score. A photograph was
Vol. 218, No. 2, February 2014 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety 173

Table 2. Criteria for Judging Still Photographs of the Critical View of Safety
Two structures connected to the gallbladder
2 points Two structures can immediately and clearly be seen connecting to the gallbladder.
1 point Two structures can be seen connecting to the gallbladder, but there is some overlap of
duct and artery or a technical feature, such as poor lighting or lack of color contrast,
that interferes with clarity of determination. Photograph requires study to make
assessment.
0 points Due to overlap or technical issues 2 separated cystic structures cannot be seen.
Cystic plate
2 points Cystic plate is immediately clearly visible to approximately its bottom one third.
1 point Cystic plate is visible but overlapped by other structures so that it is not optimally seen or
an insufficient amount of the plate is shown. Photograph requires study to make
assessment.
0 points Cystic plate not visible due to positioning, light, obstruction of view by instruments, or
coverage with clot.
Clearance of hepatocystic triangle
2 points Hepatocystic triangle is cleared of tissue so that visibility of cystic structures and plate are
completely unimpeded, but also so that viewer can be immediately certain than no
other structures are in the triangle.
1 point Somewhat less than the whole triangle can be clearly seen or technical issues reduce ability
to see optimally. Photograph requires study to make assessment.
0 points Tissue in triangle obscures view of cystic structures cystic plate and does not allow
conclusion that that there are no other structures in triangle. Or technical issues prevent
determination of how well cleared the triangle is.

rated as demonstrating CVS satisfactorily when the mean number for surgeons who had participated in our earlier
score of the 2 raters was 5.0, 5.5, or 6.0 points. Photos study. In fact, 3 surgeons completed the study in just 4
with lower scores were considered to be unsatisfactory cases. Another surgeon completed 6 cases, all of which
photographs. The cut point between satisfactory and are included in the analysis. In retrospect, this surgeon
unsatisfactory was high because an experienced partici- had also reached plateau in 4 cases. Additional patients
pating surgeon had concluded that CVS had been were photographed because several cholecystectomies
obtained and it should be confirmable by still were done within a very short period, and an interim
photographs if this method is to be considered reliable. analysis was not possible after the first 4 cases were
completed. One surgeon reached plateau in 6 cases.
Statistical analysis Two surgeons completed only 2 cases each after 6
All data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism version months. They attained high scores on the doublet view
5.01 software. Calculating differences in numerical values in all 4 cases. The trial was halted after 8 months because
was conducted using unpaired t-test. Chi-square test was the results were clear.
used to compare categorical data. A p value <0.05 Figures 2 to 5 display examples of photographs that
defined statistically significant differences. obtained different ratings. In each case, the doublets are
displayed. Figure 2 and 3 demonstrate 2 cases in which
all 3 views (ie, anterior, posterior, and doublet) received
RESULTS the maximum score of 6 points from both reviewers.
The study ran from November 2012 to July 2013. Seven
surgeons and 31 patients participated. In 2 patients, there
were technical problems with the photographic equip-
Table 3. Patient Demographic and Pathologic Variables
ment, and in another the cystic artery was avulsed during Characteristic
dissection. Twenty-eight patients were successfully photo-
Age, y, mean (range) 51.6 (21e85)
graphed. Table 3 summarizes the study patients’ demo-
Female, n (%) 13 (46.4)
graphic and pathologic variables. It was expected that
Body mass index, mean (range) 35.4 (17e60)
between 5 and 10 procedures would be needed for
Gallbladder wall thickness, mm, mean (range) 3.2 (1e10)
a surgeon to reach plateau (ie, 4 consecutive doublet
Cholelithiasis, n (%) 21 (75.0)
view scores that differed by 1 point or less), with a smaller
174 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety J Am Coll Surg

Figure 2. Doublet photographs of the Critical View of Safety, which received maximum score of 6
points on all views. The complete clearance of the hepatocystic triangle, the presence of only 2
structures going into gallbladder and the lower one third of the cystic plate are visible immedi-
ately in both pictures.

Figure 4 is an example in which the doublet achieved 6 had a body mass index (BMI) of 52 and the gallbladder
points, but the anterior and posterior views received appears to have been difficult to position. Also, there
less. The anterior view (4.5 points mean score) did not might have been a problem with obtaining white balance,
show the cystic plate well, and in the posterior view (5 as the picture is monochromatic. It should be emphasized
points mean score) the separation of the cystic duct and that there was no problem seeing the CVS by the surgeon
artery was less than ideal. However, both reviewers in real time during the operation. The problem was in
concluded that examining both photographs simulta- obtaining a satisfactory photograph of CVS.
neously allowed determination that the criteria for cystic Overall, 84 ratings were performed (28 anterior views,
plate visualization and 2 and only 2 structures entering 28 posterior views, and 28 doublet views). The raters
the gallbladder were well met when viewed as a doublet. were in agreement or within 1 point of agreement in the
Figure 5 is an example of a poor photographic result. This 0 to 6 scale in 81 of 84 ratings. In 3 instances, the reviewers
patient had scores of 3.5, 2.5, and 4.5 for anterior, poste- were 2 points apart. Two of these were ratings of the ante-
rior, and doublet views, respectively, the worst results in rior views and one in the posterior view. The individual
the study. In the anterior view, 2 structures entering the ratings were averaged to obtain the final scores. These are
gallbladder can be seen, but the cystic plate is obscured shown in Figure 6 for the anterior, posterior, and doublet
and clearance of the hepatocystic triangle is uncertain. views. Satisfactory ratings are shown in gray and unsatisfac-
In the posterior view, orientation is difficult. This patient tory ratings are displayed in black. The individual anterior

Figure 3. Doublet photographs of the Critical View of Safety (CVS), which received maximum
score of 6 points on all views. As for Figure 2, the 3 criteria of CVS are immediately visible in
both pictures. Note that although the cystic duct is thickened, one can be confident that the
structure is in fact the cystic duct.
Vol. 218, No. 2, February 2014 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety 175

Figure 4. Doublet photographs in which the anterior view does not show the cystic plate well
(arrow) and the posterior view does not separate the cystic duct and artery well (circle). However,
in combination, the doublet received the maximum 6 points.

and posterior views received significantly lower ratings than a satisfactory rating on individual photographs compared
doublet views (5.21 vs 5.70; p ¼ 0.03). The posterior view with patients with a BMI 40 (85.0% vs 56.3%; p ¼
received lower rankings than the anterior view, but the 0.02) (Fig. 7). However, there was no correlation between
difference was not significant (5.05 vs 5.33; p ¼ 0.32). patient demographic or pathologic factors, including
Importantly, individual views were satisfactory in 43 of BMI, and the scores of doublet photographs. It is possible
56 (76.8%) instances, and doublet views were satisfactory that with larger numbers, additional influencing factors
in 27 of 28 (96.4%) instances (p ¼ 0.02). In summary, might be detected in the future.
ratings were significantly higher when anterior and poste-
rior views were considered together by the rater at the
same time (doublet view) rather than when views were rated DISCUSSION
individually and the doublet view almost always attained The Critical View of Safety as an effective method
a satisfactory rating. to reduce biliary injury
A number of factors that might have affected outcomes Critical View of Safety was introduced as a method of
were examined, including age, sex, BMI, gallbladder wall anatomical identification in laparoscopic cholecystec-
thickness, and presence of gall bladder inflammation on tomy in response to the reported high incidence of
pathology. Only BMI 40 had a significant negative biliary injury associated with that operation.1,2 Several
effect on the ratings of the individual views. Patients reports from expert centers involving >5,000 patients
with a BMI <40 were significantly more likely to have indicate that the CVS method is effective in helping to

Figure 5. Example of unsatisfactory doublet photographs. The cystic duct is seen drawn to the
left and the cystic artery running over a curved dissector in the anterior view. However, the cystic
plate is obscured and clearance of the hepatocystic triangle is uncertain. Orientation in the
posterior view is difficult in the photograph, although the Critical View of Safety was clearly seen
in real time at surgery.
176 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety J Am Coll Surg

Figure 6. Ratings for the anterior, posterior, and doublet views. Satisfactory ratings are shown in gray and unsat-
isfactory ratings are displayed in black. Individual views had significantly lower ratings than doublet views (5.21 vs
5.70; p ¼ 0.03) with about 25% of photographs falling into the unsatisfactory zone in individual views.

avoid misidentification injuries.3-7 Critical View of Safety


was made mandatory in the Netherlands 5 years ago, and
part of that mandate was that a visual record of CVS
should be obtained.11 However, there has not been
a measurable decrease in bile duct injuries in the
Netherlands. A recent registry report from Sweden
suggests that bile duct injury is still a common problem
in that country as well.9 There exists a seemingly contra-
dictory state with regard to the effectiveness of CVS.
Interested experts find that it is highly effective, but
when applied in a nationwide manner it seems to have
had little effect. Is this because the CVS method is truly
ineffective or because it is not being used correctly?
Without a method to record CVS accurately, this ques-
tion cannot be answered. The purpose of this study Figure 7. Compares the percent of satisfactory single Critical View
was to develop an accurate yet simple and inexpensive of Safety (CVS) images in patients with body mass index (BMI) <40
(gray bar; n ¼ 40) and 40 (black bar; n ¼ 16). Patients with BMI
way of recording CVS.
<40 were significantly more likely to have a satisfactory rating on
a single CVS photograph compared with patients with a BMI 40
Operative notes and The Critical View of Safety (85.0% vs 56.3%; p ¼ 0.02). However, there was no difference
Plaisier and colleagues and Wauben and colleagues found when using doublet views to rate photos.
that operative notes are a relatively poor method of deter-
mining whether CVS has been achieved compared with
a need for a simple, effective, and inexpensive way to
video recordings or still photographs.12-14 Our recent
record CVS visually during laparoscopic cholecystectomy
experience with referred biliary injuries is that although
to understand the pathogenesis and reduce the incidence
CVS is often mentioned in the operative report, a careful
of bile duct injuries.
reading often indicates that it could not have been
attained because one or more essential elements is missing.
Unfortunately, the “critical view” being described in these Dutch studies on visual recording of the Critical
operative notes is sometimes the view that is obtained View of Safety
when the so-called “infundibular technique”15 is used. Dutch surgeons have compared video recordings and still
In our opinion, this “funnel view” is an error trap and is photography, and concluded that the former is the supe-
associated with the occurrence of biliary injuries, espe- rior method of recording CVS accurately.12 However,
cially in the face of severe acute and chronic inflamma- videos are more expensive and difficult to store. More
tion.15 Because descriptions in operative notes are importantly, there has not been a systematic attempt to
missing or sometimes actually misleading, there is optimize techniques of still photography of CVS or to
Vol. 218, No. 2, February 2014 Sanford and Strasberg Photographing the Critical View of Safety 177

instruct surgeons in these techniques. The study of Bud- cholangiography and photographs of endoscopic proce-
dingh and colleagues16 comes closest to our own, but dures. Recording in this manner might permit studies
their results were very different from the results of this to determine whether CVS is being attained, and will
study. They found that in almost half of the cases, still allow for the evaluation of its efficacy in preventing biliary
photos were insufficient for determination of whether injuries as well as provide insight into why these injuries
the cystic duct had been identified confidently. However, continue to occur.
their study differed significantly in several ways. It was
retrospective, detailed teaching and a primer were not
Author Contributions
available, doublet views were not specifically used for
Study conception and design: Strasberg, Sanford
rating, and the rating system was on a 1 to 10 scale
Acquisition of data: Sanford
with less precise description of variables that made up
Analysis and interpretation of data: Strasberg, Sanford
the score, that is, it was based on the “quality of the
Drafting of manuscript: Strasberg, Sanford
images.” Also, their study used community surgeons as
Critical revision: Strasberg, Sanford
subjects, and the current study used tertiary care
subspecialists.
Acknowledgment: The authors express their gratitude to
Value of doublet photographs of the Critical View of the following surgeons who participated in this study:
Safety Michael M Awad, L Michael Brunt, J Christopher Eagon,
This study demonstrates that surgeons who are practiced Ryan C Fields, William G Hawkins, Daniel E Kleiner,
in dissecting to the CVS can obtain highly satisfactory and David C Linehan.
photographic images of the dissection displaying CVS.
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