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Chronic acalculous gallbladder disease: a clinical variant.
E R Frykberg1, T C Duong, J J LaRosa
1Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Jacksonville, FL 32209.
Southern Medical Journal
|November 1, 1988
Summary
Cholecystectomy can relieve chronic abdominal pain even without gallstones. Severe biliary colic symptoms were the best predictor of successful surgery in patients without stones.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Outcomes
Background:
- Cholecystectomy is a common procedure for gallbladder disease.
- A subset of patients experience biliary colic without gallstones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of cholecystectomy in patients with biliary colic but no gallstones.
- To identify predictors of successful surgical outcomes in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 228 cholecystectomies over two years.
- Analysis of patient demographics, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and postoperative outcomes.
Main Results:
- 15 patients (6.6%) had cholecystectomies without gallstones, presenting with right upper quadrant colicky pain.
- Short-term and long-term follow-up showed complete symptom resolution in all evaluated patients.
- No mortality and low morbidity (3 patients) were observed.
Conclusions:
- Cholecystectomy is effective for treating disabling biliary colic in the absence of gallstones.
- Severe biliary colic appears to be a reliable indicator for successful cholecystectomy in these cases.