Short-Term Impact of Elective Cholecystectomy on Serum Lipid Profiles: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background Gallstones are a frequent health problem and a common indication for cholecystectomy in symptomatic patients. Although gallstones are often associated with dyslipidemia, the short-term postoperative impact on lipid profiles remains unclear, with previous studies reporting conflicting results. This study evaluated the one-month effect of elective cholecystectomy on clinical and biochemical parameters, including lipid profiles. Materials and methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted including 61 patients who underwent elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy between October 2019 and December 2023 and had complete preoperative and one-month postoperative data. Clinical variables (age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate) and biochemical parameters, including fasting glucose, liver enzymes, bilirubin, and lipid profiles (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG), Chol/HDL-c ratio), were analyzed. Paired t-tests, chi-squared tests, and logistic regression were used to assess postoperative changes and identify predictors of lipid profile improvement. Results No statistically significant change was observed in mean TC, TG, HDL-c, or LDL-c at one month. However, 34 patients (56%) showed a postoperative reduction in TC, while 27 (44%) did not. Higher baseline TC was the only significant predictor of improvement. Conclusion Elective cholecystectomy did not significantly modify lipid profiles at the group level one month postoperatively. However, patients with elevated preoperative cholesterol were more likely to experience early biochemical improvement. The predictive model developed may facilitate the identification of individuals most likely to experience metabolic benefits from the procedure. Given the short follow-up duration and limited sample size, further validation in larger prospective cohorts is warranted to confirm these findings, assess long-term outcomes, and refine predictive factors.