[Cholecystectomy as a risk factor for duodenogastric reflux]

Bile reflux or duodenogastric reflux (DGR), refers to the retrograde flow of duodenal contents (mainly bile) into the stomach; capable of producing chemical damage to the mucosa, and triggering mutations towards the development of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and even gastric cancer.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of primary bile reflux in cholecystectomized patients and to identify whether cholecystectomy is a risk factor for development of DGR.

An analytical cross-sectional and observational study was conducted, in which all patients who underwent upper digestive endoscopy from February to June 2023 in a private endoscopic center in Lima, Peru, were included. According to the endoscopic report, patients were divided into two groups as those with DGR and those without DGR. Demographic characteristics, history of cholecystectomy, and endoscopic findings were statistically analyzed. 408 patients were included.

The mean age of the population was 48.18 ± 16.82 years; 61.52% were female. The prevalence of DGR was 25.74% in the population, while in cholecystectomized patients it was 52.11%. The prevalence of DRG in patients with a history of cholecystectomy was 2.58 times compared to patients without cholecystectomy (p<0.001). Age ≥50 years also behaved as a risk factor for RDG (p=0.025). No significant difference in diabetes, Helicobacter pylori infection or smoking were found.

In conclusion, a history of cholecystectomy as well as age were found to be risk factors for development of primary DGR.