[Significant value and therapeutic implications of routine gastroscopy before cholecystectomy]

Endoscopy of the upper digestive tract was performed in 338 consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy between January 1991 and December 1992. Pathological findings were seen in 160 (47.3%), 6.8% of the patients had peptic ulcers, 1.8% gastric erosions, 25.7% gastritis, 3.2% polyps, 4.7% hiatal hernias, 3.0% oesophagitis and 0.6% gastric cancer. In most patients the gastroscopic results did not correlate with the clinical symptoms. The therapy concept had to be changed in 8.3% of the patients due to gastroscopic findings, 23 patients with ulcers, 2 with erosions and 1 with oesophagitis had to be treated medically and so the cholecystectomy was postponed. Two patients with gastric cancer underwent gastrectomy. These results underline the importance of a routine gastroscopy before elective cholecystectomy.