Fate of dyspeptic or colonic symptoms after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
Gallbladder diseases can give rise to dyspeptic or colonic symptoms in addition to biliary pain. Although most biliary pain shows improvement after cholecystectomy, the fates of dyspeptic or colonic symptoms still remain controversial. This study as-sessed whether nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms improved after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and identified the char-acteristics of patients who experienced continuing or exacerbated symptoms following surgery.


METHODS
Sixty-five patients who underwent LC for uncomplicated gallbladder stones or gallbladder polyps were enrolled. The patients were surveyed on their dyspeptic or colonic symptoms before surgery and again at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Patients' mental sanity was also assessed using a psychological symptom score with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised questionnaire.


RESULTS
Forty-four (67.7%) patients showed one or more dyspeptic or colonic symptoms before surgery. Among these, 31 (47.7%) and 36 (55.4%) patients showed improvement at 3 and 6 months after surgery, respectively. However, 18.5% of patients showed continuing or exacerbated symptoms at 6 months after surgery. These patients did not differ with respect to gallstone or gall-bladder polyps, but differed in frequency of gastritis. These patients reported lower postoperative satisfaction. Patients with ab-dominal symptoms showed higher psychological symptom scores than others. However, poor mental sanity was not related to the symptom exacerbation.


CONCLUSIONS
Elective LC improves dyspeptic or colonic symptoms. Approximately 19% of patients reported continuing or exacerbated symp-toms following LC. Detailed history-taking regarding gastritis before surgery can be helpful in predicting patients' outcome after LC.
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Gi Hyun
GH
Kim
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Hyo Deok
HD
Lee
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Min
M
Kim
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Kyeongmin
K
Kim
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Yusook
Y
Jeong
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Yong Joo
YJ
Hong
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Eun Seok
ES
Kang
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Joung-Ho
JH
Han
Departments of Surgery, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Jae-Woon
JW
Choi
Departments of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea.
Seon Mee
SM
Park
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Cholecystectomy, laparoscopic; Gastritis; Postcholecystectomy syndrome