Gastric electrical activity in patients with cholelithiasis undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective controlled study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of gallstone disease (GD) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy on gastric electrical activity of slow waves, which was recorded via transcutaneous electrogastrography (EGG).


METHODS
Twenty-one consecutive patients (M/F: 12/9, 52.7 +/- 15 years old) with GD and no previous history of abdominal operations or known disease affecting gastrointestinal motility were studied. The EGG was performed for 30 min prior to and 90 min after a standard meal, during a 4-6 month period prior to and after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The percentile proportion of the three spectra of gastric slow waves frequency was studied, defined as follows: bradygastria, 1-2.1 cycles per min (c.p.m.); normogastria, 2.2-3.9 c.p.m.; and tachygastria, 4-9 c.p.m. The findings were compared to those of nine healthy subjects (M/F: 5/4, 49.5 +/- 14.8 years old).


RESULTS
No statistically significant difference was found in percentile distribution of bradygastria, normogastria and tachygastria, pre- or post-prandially, neither before or after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, nor between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with GD do not exhibit differences in gastric electrical activity of slow waves in comparison to normal subjects and laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not alter gastric electrical activity. These findings suggest that cholelithiasis does not seem to cause dyspeptic symptoms due to gastric dysrythmias.
Sgouros
Spiros N
SN
Department of Gastroenterology, Athens Naval and Veterans Hospital, Athens, Greece. spisgon@otonet.gr
Vlachogiannakos
Jiannis
J
Karamanolis
George
G
Stefanidis
Gerasimos
G
Papadopoulou
Euthimia
E
Pechlivanides
George
G
Nousis
Grigorios
G
Mantides
Apostolos
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000503:physiopathology*