Defined indications for elective cholecystectomy for gallstone disease.
BACKGROUND
This study examined symptomatology and quality of life following elective cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstone disease with defined indications for surgery.


METHODS
In this prospective study of 200 consecutive patients (161 women; median age 46.5 (range 24-79) years), strict indications for elective cholecystectomy were stipulated. Digestive symptoms and quality of life were recorded with a self-administered questionnaire before and at 3 and 12 months after surgery.


RESULTS
Of 149 patients who experienced abdominal pain with typical location before surgery, 136 (91.3 per cent) reported total remission or reduced frequency of that type of pain 12 months later. Of 35 patients who reported atypical or multiple pain location before operation, 27 (77 per cent) experienced reduced frequency or disappearance of that type of pain. Frequency of pain episodes, atypical or multiple pain location, specific food intolerance and frequency of disturbing abdominal gas at baseline correlated positively with the frequency of abdominal pain episodes at 12 months after surgery. There was a tendency towards an inverse relation to age.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of persistent abdominal pain after elective cholecystectomy was low among patients with typical pain location before surgery. Atypical pain location, and frequent pain episodes before operation significantly reduced the chance of becoming pain-free.
Halldestam
I
I
Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Linköping, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden. ingvar.halldestam@lio.se
Kullman
E
E
Borch
K
K
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome