Acalculous gallbladder pain: a largely unrecognised entity.
OBJECTIVE
To study the presentation for and outcome of cholecystectomy in patients with acalculous gallbladder pain.


METHODS
Sixty-six consecutive patients with prospective documentation underwent cholecystectomy for putative acalculous gallbladder pain between December 1988 to April 1995. The diagnosis was made on clinical grounds, but in the majority, a CCK oral cholecystogram was performed. Outcomes were assessed by postal questionnaire mailed in October 1995 or by the last recorded follow- up.


RESULTS
Fifty-eight females and eight males, with a median age of 37.5 years had experienced abdominal pain, usually with associated nausea, for a median of three years. Preoperative investigations were non-contributory, with the exception of the CCK oral cholecystogram which was regarded as abnormal in all instances. At a median follow-up of 40 months, 48 patients (72.7%) described their symptoms as either totally relieved or much improved by cholecystectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Though the pathophysiology remains poorly understood, there is clearly a group of patients who suffer from gallbladder pain in the absence of gallstones and who benefit from cholecystectomy.
Jourdan
J L
JL
The Wakefield Clinic for Gastrointestinal Diseases, Wellington.
Stubbs
R S
RS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002765:Cholecystography; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003085:Colic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000175:diagnosis; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D002766:Cholecystokinin