Somatosensory changes in the referred pain area before and after cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease.
OBJECTIVE
It is estimated that 25-40% of patients have continuing symptoms after cholecystectomy and that 5-10% have pain. The pain may be related to central neuroplastic changes of sensory pathways induced by the gallstone disease. Such neuronal hyperexcitability can be reflected in the somatic referred pain area sharing central pathways with the gallbladder. The aim of this study was to examine somatosensory changes in the referred pain area evoked by painful gallstone attacks before and after cholecystectomy in patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients with uncomplicated gallstone disease were included in the study. The sensations and pain thresholds to pinprick, pinching, pressure, thermal and electrical stimulation were studied before and 4-12 weeks after surgery in the area where the pain was referred to during the previous gallstone attacks. An area on the contralateral side of the abdomen served as the control.


RESULTS
Somatosensory hyperalgesia in the referred pain area was observed in 84% of the patients before surgery. After elective cholecystectomy, none of the patients had pain complaints, and the sensibility in the referred area was normalized.


CONCLUSIONS
Uncomplicated gallstone disease leads to significant hyperalgesia in the somatic referred pain area. At the time of the postoperative investigation none of the patients suffered from pain, which was reflected in the normal sensory findings in the previous referred pain area.
Stawowy
Marek
M
Department of Surgical Gastroenterology L, Aarhus University Hospital, Nørrebrogade 44, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
Drewes
Asbjørn Mohr
AM
Arendt-Nielsen
Lars
L
Funch-Jensen
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017288:Pain Threshold; D053591:Referred Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010812:Physical Stimulation