Cholelithiasis in Ibadan: an update

This study is to ascertain the present status of cholelithiasis in our environment. Six hundred and seventy (670) consecutive abdominal, ultrasounds done for various abdominal complaints at the University College HospitaL Ibadan from January 1977 to December 1998 were studied for gall stones in addition to other studies of the abdomen. Only twelve (12) gallstones were found, giving a prevalence of 1.79%. Only 25% were silent stones. The male:female ratio was 1:3. The mean age was 30 years (S.D = 2.8) and peak age was between 30 and 40 years. The average body mass index (B.M.I) was 23.49 kg/m2 (S.D = 3.9). The average parity among the women was four (4). Only one ultrasound was false (false negative). This study shows an increase. In prevalence over previous figures (1.79%) as against 0.007% in the sixties). The peak age is a decade lower and the anthropometric measurements in our patients do not support the typical caucassian model.