Search

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic gallstone disease requiring cholecystectomy (CCE) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) and to identify the peri-operative risk factors associated with postoperative symptomatic gallstone disease., Methods: Between August 2003 and November 2009, 724 patients underwent LRYGBP at the Groeninge Hospital. Preoperative ultrasound was performed in 600 of 641 patients without history of CCE and 120 (20.0%) were diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis., Result: Six hundred twenty-five patients were included, 43(6.9%) developed delayed symptoms related to biliary disease. Of these 43 patients, 39 underwent post-LRYGBP CCE. Of these 39 patients, 9 (7.5%) had a positive ultrasound prior to LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGB of more than 50% of excess weight [HR (95% CI), 2.04 (1.04-4.28); p = 0.037) as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis., Conclusions: Symptomatic gallstone disease occurred only in 6.9% of patients post-LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGBP of more than 50% of excess weight as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Prophylactic CCE should not be recommended at the time of LRYGBP.

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of upper abdominal pain. Seven months earlier a laparoscopic cholecystectomy had been carried out and a solitary gallstone removed together with the gallbladder. The patient now suffered from pain of the same character but lower intensity compared to the situation before the operation. At admission there were no abnormal laboratory findings, especially no signs of infection or cholestasis. Ultrasound revealed a stone in a gallbladder-like structure in the right epigastric region. ERCP revealed an inconspicuous cystic duct stump and no pathological findings in the extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts. MRCP and CT showed a cyst-like structure in the gallbladder region containing a concrement. The patient was transferred to the Department of Surgery for exploratory laparotomy, and a residual gallbladder with an infundibular gallstone was removed. The recurrent upper abdominal pain was obviously caused by a gallstone redeveloped after incomplete laparoscopic gallbladder resection. Retrospectively it could not be discerned whether a doubled or a septated gallbladder was the reason for the initial incomplete resection.