Pain and dyspepsia after elective and acute cholecystectomy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Postcholecystectomy pain occurs in 20-30%. The main cause of this pain remains unclear. Whether the underlying gallbladder disease influences the outcome after cholecystectomy is not fully established.

METHODS:

A multicenter questionnaire study comparing the occurrence of abdominal pain and dyspepsia 5-10 years after cholecystectomy in 345 (222 women, 123 men) patients cholecystectomized for acute cholecystitis and in a control group of 296 (213 women, 83 men) patients cholecystectomized for uncomplicated symptomatic gallbladder stones.

RESULTS:

Of 641 questionnaires, 534 (83%) were completed. Complaints of abdominal pain and dyspepsia were found with similar frequencies in the acute cholecystitis and gallstone groups. Women had abdominal pain more often than men (42% versus 29%) (P = 0.01). Although more than one-third complained of abdominal pain after cholecystectomy, 93% had improved or were cured.

CONCLUSION:

The outcome after cholecystectomy seems to be independent of the underlying gallbladder disease (acute cholecystitis or elective operations for gallstones).

• Authors: H V Middelfart, J U Kristensen, C N Laursen, N Qvist, L Højgaard, P Funch-Jensen, H Kehlet
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology (Scand J Gastroenterol) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 10-4 (Jan 1998) ISSN: 0036-5521 [Print] England
• PMID: 9489901 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Abdominal Pain (etiology)
• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Cholecystectomy (adverse effects)
• Cholecystitis (surgery)
• Dyspepsia (etiology)
• Elective Surgical Procedures (adverse effects)
• Emergencies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pain Measurement
• Pain, Postoperative (etiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome
• Urinary Bladder Calculi (surgery)