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Profile of Patients with Gallstone Disease in a Sub-Saharan African General Surgery Department: A Retrospective
A Ndong1, N F Gaye1, J N Tendeng1
1Department of Surgery, Gaston Berger University of Saint-Louis, Senegal.
Insights
This study describes gallstone disease patients in Senegal, highlighting the need for better treatment strategies. Understanding patient profiles can reduce complications and improve care for this common biliary tract condition.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Surgical Sciences
Background:
- Gallstone disease is the most prevalent biliary tract disorder, affecting over 98% of cases.
- While common globally, its prevalence in Africa is notably lower (under 5%) compared to other continents.
- Understanding the patient profile in a surgical setting is crucial for managing complications and optimizing treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To delineate the epidemiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic characteristics of gallstone disease patients at Saint-Louis Hospital, Senegal.
- To address the lack of previous studies on gallstone disease in this region, despite a high prevalence of risk factors.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted over five years (January 2015 - December 2020).
- Data was collected from patient records in the General Surgery department, with patient contact for missing information.
- Included patients had gallstone disease diagnosed via imaging (ultrasound/CT scan), encompassing various presentations and age groups.
Main Results:
- The study aimed to describe the patient profile, including epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical aspects.
- Therapeutic strategies employed for gallstone disease management were also analyzed.
Conclusions:
- This research provides essential insights into gallstone disease in Senegal, a region with significant risk factors like sickle cell disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia.
- The findings will aid in reducing gallstone disease complications and tailoring more effective patient treatments.
- Establishing the patient profile is key to mitigating the overall burden of gallstone disease.
Introduction:
Gallstone disease is a disorder characterised by the formation of stones in the biliary tract. It is the most common biliary condition accounting for more than 98% of all gallbladder and biliary tract disorders. In Africa, previous studies have shown a relative rarity of this condition with a prevalence less than 5%; since it is between 2 and 5 times higher in other continents. A good knowledge of the profile of patient with gallstone disease in a surgical setting could allow to reduce gallstone disease complications and to tailor better the treatment. To our knowledge, there was no previous study about gallstone disease in this region even if there is a high prevalence of metabolic factors of gallstone disease.
Methods:
This study objective is to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic profile of patients with gallstone disease at the Department of General Surgery of Saint-Louis Hospital (Senegal). It will be a single-centre retrospective cohort study in a period of 5 years (January 2015 - December 2020). The patients' record of the department of general surgery will be consulted and the patient contacted if there are missing data. Patients with gallstone disease diagnosed with imaging (ultrasonography and/or CT scan) regardless the presentation (asymptomatic, biliary colic, cholecystitis, common bile duct lithiasis, angio-cholitis, pancreatitis) will be included. Adults and paediatric patients will be enrolled. Patient records lacking sufficient data will be excluded. Studied parameters will be epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic aspects.
Ethics And Dissemination:
Anonymity and confidentiality of information collected in patients will be respected. This research protocol will be submitted to the Ethics Committee of our institution for approval. The knowledge of the profile of patients with gallstone disease in a surgical setting could allow to reduce gallstone disease complications and to tailor better the treatment. Finally, it will help to reduce the burden of gallstone disease.
Highlights:
Gallstone disease is the most common biliary tract conditionTo our knowledge, there was no previous study about gallstone disease in this region even if there is a high prevalence of risk factors of gallstone disease (sickle cell disease, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia)Good knowledge of the profile of patients with gallstone disease in a surgical setting could allow to reduce gallstone disease complications and to tailor better the treatment.
