[Diagnostic problems and results of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in chronic acalculous cholecystitis]

We report on our experience with laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 15 patients, 12 females and 3 males (mean age: 44 years), with chronic acalculous cholecystitis. These patients presented with recurrent episodes of biliary colic together with a dysmorphic or dysfunctioning gallbladder as confirmed by ultrasound and/or cholescintiscan with 99m-Tc HIDA performed in fasting conditions and after meals. First of all, we considered the possible presence of concomitant digestive disease (peptic ulcer disease, recurrent pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic hepatitis) potentially responsible for the pain. Ultrasound investigations revealed a pathological gallbladder in 10 patients. Cholecystectomy was curative in 8/10. Cholescintiscan revealed a pathological gallbladder in 8 patients and cholecystectomy was curative in only 5 of these. No postoperative deaths or significant complications occurred. The mean duration of the operation (35 vs 48 min) and hospital stay (2.1 vs 2.8 days) were reduced in comparison to 346 cholecystectomies performed for gallstones. After 6-36 months' follow-up, resolution of symptoms was successful in 10/15 cases (66.6%); in 3 cases, only dyspepsia was reduced, whilst in the other 2 cases, who also presented concomitant irritable bowel syndrome and gastroduodenitis, there was no improvement in pain. In all but the latter two cases (86.6%), histological examination revealed chronic gallbladder inflammation. In conclusion, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was curative (66.6%) or led to an improvement in symptoms (20%) in patients with chronic acalculous cholcystitis. Cholescintiscans were not always diagnostic for the disease, whereas ultrasound findings were more useful as an indication for surgery.