[Dyspepsia and food intolerance in symptomatic gallstone disease. Does cholecystectomy help?]

60 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease were asked about their abdominal symptoms and food intolerance. Equally a healthy control group was investigated. Preoperatively, 72% of patients with gallstones suffered from right upper quadrant pain. Additionally all patients complained of associated dyspeptic symptoms (100% vs. 8% of the control group). 51% of patients with gallstone disease vs. 15% of the control group avoided flatulent and fatty food. 4 months after cholecystectomy, 90% were painfree, 82% were free of dyspeptic symptoms and 84% were not complaining of any food intolerance. 6% developed new food intolerances. Thus cholecystectomy seems to be an effective treatment, not only for typical gallstone related symptoms, but also for associated symptoms, such as dyspepsia and food intolerance. Different therapeutic regimens have to compete with these results.