PURPOSE: An increased incidence of cholelithiasis has been widely reported following a truncal vagotomy and gastrectomy in benign peptic ulcer disease. However, there have been few studies on cholelithiasis following a gastrectomy in gastric cancer patients. Therefore, the incidence, influencing factors, natural course and whether a prophylactic cholecystectomy is required during a gastrectomy were investigated.
METHODS: 1,057 patients with gastric cancer, who received a gastrectomy at Chung-Ang University Hospital between January, 1992 and December, 2001, were reviewed. Of the 1,057 patients, 591 were included in this study, with 420 and 46 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up after the gastrectomy and because they received a preoperative or concomitant cholecystectomy, respectively. Age, gender, extents of gastrectomy, anastomosis methods and cancer staging were investigated as factors for potential correlation with any incidence. Furthermore, the interval between the gastrectomy and the discovery of cholelithiasis and the number of patients receiving a cholecystectomy due to cholecystitis during the follow-up period were also studied.
RESULTS: The preoperative prevalence of cholelithiasis was 7.22% (46/637). The incidence of cholelithiasis after a gastrectomy was 7.61% (45/591), with a mean duration of 32.13+/-28.18 months. There were no significant differences in the incidences of cholelithiasis according to age, gender, extents of gastrectomy or stage (P>0.05). 23 cases of cholelithiasis (50%) were detected within 24 months and 80% (36/45) of all cases developed within 48 months. Among the 45 gallstone patients, only 6 (13.33%) developed acute cholecy- stitis and received a cholecystectomy.
CONCLUSION: The incidence of cholelithiasis after a gastrectomy was very low, and was independent of age, gender, and other influencing factors in our study. Therefore, close observation and follow-up evaluation would be helpful in the prevention and detection of cholelithiasis. Also further study will be needed on the relationship between the methods of anastomosis and the incidence of cholelithiasis. The clinical benefits of a prophylactic cholecystectomy during a gastrectomy should also be studied carefully.
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