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Symptomatic Cholilithiasis and Cholecystectomy for a 9-Month-Old Infant: A Case Report
1Department of surgery, school of medicine, college of health sciences, AAU, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Insights
Symptomatic gallstones (cholilithiasis) are uncommon in infants, requiring a high suspicion for diagnosis. Surgical removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) is recommended for symptomatic infants to prevent complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Medical case reports
Background:
- Symptomatic gallstones (cholilithiasis) are rare in pediatric populations.
- Early diagnosis of symptomatic cholilithiasis in children necessitates a high index of clinical suspicion.
- Cholecystectomy is the definitive treatment for symptomatic gallstones in children, preventing complications.
Observation:
- A 9-month-old infant presented with irritability and abdominal pain, later diagnosed with symptomatic gallstones.
- The infant experienced prolonged diagnostic evaluation for biliary colic over several months.
- This case represents the youngest reported instance of symptomatic gallstones and cholecystectomy in Ethiopia.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of symptomatic gallstones in infants requires heightened clinical awareness.
- Cholecystectomy was successfully performed on a 9-month-old infant, leading to improved outcomes.
- This case highlights the feasibility and necessity of surgical intervention for pediatric gallstones.
Implications:
- Emphasizes the importance of considering gallstones in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain in infants.
- Suggests that cholecystectomy is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic gallstones in very young children.
- Contributes to the limited literature on pediatric gallstone disease in developing countries.
Background:
Symptomatic cholilithiasis is rare in children. Thus, a high degree of suspicion is required for diagnosis. Once a child is diagnosed with symptomatic cholilithiasis, cholecystectomy is required to relieve the symptoms and prevent complication.
Case Details:
A 9-month-old infant from Addis Ababa presented to the Pediatric Department of ZewdituMemorial Hospital on January 30, 2015 with irritability, abdominal pain. On workup, she was found to have gall stones, and her condition was at last attributed to biliary colic after months of follow-up in the Department of Pediatrics. She underwent cholecystectomy on the 31st of July 2015 and discharged with improved results. This is the first report of symptomatic cholilithiasis and cholecystectomy in Ethiopia at 9 months of age.
Conclusion:
Cholilithiasis is rare in infants, and one should have a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Cholecystectomy should be done as in adults if symptomatic.
