Role of Cholecystectomy on Serum Lipid Profile in Patients With Gallstone Disease at Tertiary Care

Metabolic syndrome is a known risk factor for gallstone formation. Elevated cholesterol concentration in the bile contributes to the formation of cholesterol stones. Following cholecystectomy, lipid profile abnormalities tend to normalize.

This study aims to evaluate serum lipid profile parameters before and after cholecystectomy and to assess their relationship with the type of gallstones.

The present study was a prospective observational study conducted in the Department of General Surgery at Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, between August 2023 and September 2024. Ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional ethics committee. The study included patients diagnosed with with gallstones who consulted the Department of General Surgery and underwent either open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Paired samples t-tests were used to compare lipid profile values before and after cholecystectomy.

Among the participants, 49 (57.6%) were aged 41-60 years, and 22 (25.9%) were aged 18-40 years. Sixty-two (72.9%) were female patients, and 59 (69.4%) resided in urban areas. All lipid profile parameters decreased significantly following cholecystectomy, except for high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, which showed a significant increase. The mean serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were lower in patients with pigment stones compared to those with other types of stones.

Cholecystectomy in patients with gallstones was found to normalize deranged lipid profiles. Significant reductions were observed in total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and very LDL (VLDL) levels following the intervention. HDL levels were also increased significantly following cholecystectomy.