Acute cholecystitis after colectomy for ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
Many different hepatobiliary diseases have been related with ulcerative colitis. In this retrospective study we tried to determine whether colectomy involves a greater risk of postoperative cholecystitis in these patients than in other patients who undergo colectomy.


METHODS
From 1990 to 1998 a total of 53 subtotal or total colectomies were carried out in our hospital. 35.8% of the operations were done for ulcerative colitis (group I), 58% for cancer, 1.8% for aganglionic megacolon, and 3.6% for volvular disorders (group II).


RESULTS
In group I, 21% of the patients required reoperation because of postoperative acute cholecystitis. In group II there were no cases of acute cholecystitis. Neither parenteral nutrition nor diabetes were influential factors. 94.5% of the patients in group I had emergency surgery, while emergency surgery was necessary in only 38.2% of the patients in group II.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute cholecystitis after colectomy for ulcerative colitis, especially when the latter arises in an emergency situation, is a common complication. Although the sample was small, the results show that in view of the mortality from cholecystitis, prophylactic cholecystectomy may be necessary.
García Picazo
D
D
General and Digestive Surgery Service, General Hospital of Albacete, Spain. mmoralesp@nexo.es
Bermúdez Rodríguez
E
E
Moreno Resina
J M
JM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000209:etiology*; D003082:Colectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors