The outcome of concomitant cholecystectomy with bariatric surgery: a retrospective cohort study

Gallstones are more common in obese individuals than in healthy individuals. They are diagnosed during the preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery (BS). However, simultaneous cholecystectomy with BS is still controversial in patients with asymptomatic gallstones in the same session. In this study, the authors aimed to present an analysis of these operations performed with BS in the hospital.

The records of 396 patients who underwent BS at Samsun VM Medicalpark Hospital between September 2017 and October 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The length of hospital stay, operation time, complications, and safety of patients who underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy and BS only were examined.

Of 396 patients, 262 (66.1%) underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy and 134 (33.8%) underwent laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. Gallstones were detected during the preoperative examination in 72 (18.1%) of the 396 patients who underwent BS. It was observed that 11 of them had symptoms. No major complications occurred during or after surgery in patients who underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy and only in those who underwent BS.

Simultaneous cholecystectomy with BS does not burden the patient, and complication rates are very low. The procedure is also cost-effective, as patients do not require a second surgery.