Sonographic evaluation of gallbladder contractility in patients with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To determine gallbladder volume with sonography during fasting and in response to a fatty meal in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) and compare the results with those obtained in healthy controls.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with SCI and 40 healthy volunteers without clinical evidence of gallbladder disease underwent sonography before and 30 and 60 minutes after the ingestion of a standard fatty meal. The gallbladder fasting volume, resting volume, and gallbladder contractility were calculated, and the results were compared. Correlation between gallbladder contractility and level of lesion, time since injury, use of oxybutynin, and body mass index (BMI) was also assessed.


RESULTS
The mean ejection fraction was significantly lower in the patients with SCIs (40%) compared with healthy controls (63%) (p < 0.001). Gallbladder mean residual volume 60 minutes after ingestion of the fatty meal was lower in the control group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Gallbladder contractility is impaired in patients with SCI, which may predispose these patients to gallstone formation. There was no correlation between gallbladder contractility and level of the lesion, time since injury, use of oxybutynin, or BMI.
Nakayama
Mauro
M
Department of Radiology, Sarah Network of Hospitals for Rehabilitation, Av Juscelino Kubistchek, 4500 Passaré, Fortaleza, Brazil.
Távora
Daniel G F
DG
Gama
Romulo L
RL
Silva
Cruiff E P
CE
D000328:Adult; D001657:Biliary Dyskinesia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008333:Mandelic Acids; C005419:oxybutynin