Quality of life after cholecystectomy and after successful lithotripsy for gallbladder stones: a matched-pairs comparison.
BACKGROUND
There are few data on the quality of life of patients after successful extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy of gallbladder stones and how it compares with the quality of life of patients who underwent cholecystectomy.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
Eighteen consecutive patients who had been rendered stone free in 1992 in our unit and who have not shown recurrence until now were selected. For comparison, 18 individually matched (sex, age, body mass index and number of gallbladder stones) controls were selected among the patients who underwent unsuccessful extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy at the same time, eventually undergoing cholecystectomy. Between January and April 2000, all 36 patients answered a validated questionnaire on quality of life focusing on digestive complaints: the Gastro Intestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI).


RESULTS
The overall GIQLI scores for both groups were good: a median of 128 points (out of a maximum of 144 points) for the extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy group versus a median of 124 points for the cholecystectomy group. The slight advantage of the extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy group was not significant (P = 0.33, paired sign-test). However, the extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy group scored significantly better in the eight questions regarding dyspeptic complaints (P = 0.01, paired sign-test), mainly in the items regarding nausea and need for dietary restriction. There were no significant differences in the questions regarding symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, bowel complaints or general well-being.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life after either cholecystectomy or extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy is good overall, but cholecystectomy might be associated with a higher rate of dyspeptic complaints than a gallbladder preserving treatment like extra-corporeal shock-wave lithotripsy.
Carrilho-Ribeiro
Luís
L
Centre of Gastroenterology, Lithotripsy Unit, University Hospital of Santa Maria, Rua Garcia de Orta, 73-1, 1200-678 Lisbon, Portugal. lcarrilho@netc.pt
Serra
David
D
Pinto-Correia
António
A
Velosa
José
J
De Moura
Miguel Carneiro
MC
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life