Demography, Spectrum, and Characteristics of Symptoms Associated With Post-operative Relief After Cholecystectomy

Background Cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, and it is indicated for symptomatic gallstone disease. Symptoms of gallstone disease vary; many patients complain of the persistence of symptoms post-operatively. Hence, it is imperative to know the characteristics of symptoms that predict post-operative resolution. Methodology A prospective cross-sectional study was performed at a tertiary care centre. Patient demography and pre-operative symptoms were noted. Post-operative persistence or relief of symptoms was also documented. The occurrence of any new symptoms was noted. Data were collected at three and six months after surgery. Results Pain was the most common (85%) symptom. The mean frequency of pain was 2.45 per year (range 0-10). The mean duration of pain was 39.7 minutes (range 15-90 minutes). The right hypochondrium (39%) and the epigastric region (42%), along with 8% of patients who experienced pain in both places, were the most frequent locations of pain. The radiation of pain to the right-side scapula is present in 48% of patients. The pain persisted after one-week follow-up in 28 (34%) of patients, 26 (22%) at the end of one month, and 18 (21%) at the end of six months. Dyspepsia was unresolved in 25%, 20%, and 13% of individuals after one week, one month, and six months, respectively. Upper abdominal discomfort was still persistent in 29%, 26%, and 24% of study subjects at the time of follow-up periods, respectively. Similar persistence is found in symptoms of post-prandial fullness and nausea, where unresolved complaints of post-prandial fullness were present in 18%, 13%, and 10% of patients, respectively, and 26%, 14%, and 10% of patients complained of nausea. Conclusion The persistence of symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, post-prandial fullness, and nausea is present, which gradually decreases in severity and presentation over the course of time after the surgical procedure. Some symptoms present after surgery, such as flatulence. Such persistent symptoms might lead to a decreased outcome in terms of patient satisfaction. Patients with atypical pain or dyspepsia need to be counselled pre-operatively regarding the poor resolution of such symptoms.