Quality of life after treatment of gallstones: results of a randomised study of lithotripsy and open cholecystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare quality of life after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and open cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones.


METHODS
Randomised study.


METHODS
University hospital, The Netherlands.


METHODS
49 Patients, 23 of whom were randomized to undergo ESWL and 26 to undergo open cholecystectomy.


METHODS
Health questionnaires were filled out before, and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment.


METHODS
Improvements of quality of life after one year.


RESULTS
Both treatments improved quality of life. Open cholecystectomy improved quality of life significantly better than ESWL (median percentage gains in Nottingham Health Profile scores at 1 year 17.1 and 10.5, respectively, p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Open cholecystectomy is superior to ESWL in improving quality of life, so cholecystectomy remains the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. For patients who are unfit or unwilling to undergo operation, however, ESWL is adequate because most patients have some benefit from it in terms of quality of life.
Department of Surgery, University Hospital, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
P W
PW
Plaisier
R L
RL
van der Hul
H G
HG
Nijs
R
R
den Toom
O T
OT
Terpstra
H A
HA
Bruining
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D012917:Social Adjustment