title: Symptom resolution or relief after cholecystectomy correlates strongly with positive combined endoscopic ultrasound and stimulated biliary drainage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Combined endoscopic ultrasound and stimulated biliary drainage (EUS/SBD) has been shown to have better sensitivity than transabdominal ultrasonography (TUS) in the diagnosis of subtle gallbladder disease. The aim of the present study was to obtain long-term postoperative outcome data on a group of patients diagnosed by EUS/SBD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one patients underwent cholecystectomy for biliary pain after negative TUS findings (except for gallbladder sludge in three cases), but with positive EUS/SBD findings. EUS/SBD was performed as previously reported, with a positive result defined as gallbladder sludge or small stones noted on EUS or a positive biliary drainage. Clinical outcome data were obtained by phone an average of 15.4 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 81 patients had a positive EUS/SBD, and all underwent cholecystectomy. Seventy-six of the patients (93.8%) had abnormal gallbladder histopathology. It was possible to contact 80 patients an average of 15.4 months postoperatively (range of 7-27 months). Seventy patients (87.5%) remained free of biliary pain, and in seven (8.8%) the symptoms had improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When EUS/SBD results are positive, this correlates strongly with long-term symptom resolution or relief (96.3%) after cholecystectomy. EUS/SBD demonstrated better sensitivity (93.8%) than TUS in diagnosing subtle gallbladder disease.
authors.affiliation: Endoscopic Ultrasound of Virginia, Roanoke Gastroenterology, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D004322:Drainage; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D016896:Treatment Outcome