title: [Symptomatic gallstone disease: an indication for surgery].
abstract: Three patients, men in the ages of 58, 66 and 56 years, respectively, had experienced 'warning colics' a considerable time before gallstone complications or severe recurrent colic. Ultrasonographically proven gallstones had not led to cholecystectomy. The 58-year-old man died of sepsis due to infected pancreatic necrosis; the other men underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, after which they recovered fully. Approximately 10-5% of the adult Dutch population have gallstones, but only 10% will develop symptoms. The annual risk for developing complicated gallstone disease is 1-2% in asymptomatic gallstone carriers. Of patients admitted with complicated gallstone disease, 58% have had prior 'warning colics'. Complicated gallstone disease can be prevented by timely treatment after recognition of warning colics. Cholecystectomy is indicated in patients with intermittent upper-abdominal pain and proven gallstones or sludge.
authors.affiliation: St. Antonius Ziekenhuis, Postbus 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein.
authors.forename: A H W
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schiphorst
authors.forename: M G H
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Besselink
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Venneman
authors.forename: P M N Y H
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Go
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome