[Long-term follow-up of non-operated patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis].
BACKGROUND
In Chile, cholelithiasis is a serious public health problem and there are no studies about its natural history.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the long term evolution of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis.


METHODS
Ninety two patients with cholelithiasis (57 female), aged 15 to 80 years old and that were not operated, were followed during a period of 9 to 14 years.


RESULTS
Thirteen patients were initially asymptomatic. Of them, seven bad complications or symptoms during follow-up and two were operated. Among the 69 symptomatic patients, 38 (55%) were not operated during follow-up, and seventeen (25%) did not have symptoms again. Ten patients died during follow-up, four due to complications of biliary tract stones.


CONCLUSIONS
The present finding suggest that the evolution of cholelithiasis in Chile is more aggressive than abroad, and an early surgical treatment is warranted.
Csendes
A
A
Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago Chile.
Csendes
P
P
Burdiles
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001649:Bile Duct Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
Seguimiento a largo plazo de pacientes con colecistolitiasis asintomática y sintomática, no operados.