title: Comparative quality of life study between endoscopic sphincterotomy and surgical choledochotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine quality of life improvement in choledocholithiasis patients who underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) versus open choledochotomy (OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible choledocholithiasis patients (n = 216) hospitalized in the Changhai Hospital between May 2010 and January 2011 were enrolled into a prospective study using cluster sampling. Patients underwent EST (n = 135) or OCT (n = 81) depending on the patient's wishes. Patients were followed-up with a field survey and by correspondence. Patients were also given the self-administered Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) to measure patient quality of life before surgery, and at two and six weeks after the procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With respect to baseline patient characteristics, the EST and OCT groups were comparable. After the procedure, gallstones were completely eliminated in all patients. Among 216 eligible patients, 191 patients (88.4%) completed all three surveys, including 118 patients who underwent EST (118/135; 87.4%) and 73 patients who underwent OCT (73/81; 90.1%). EST was associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay than OCT (8.8 ± 6.5 vs 13.9 ± 6.7 d; P < 0.001). The GIQLI score was similar between the EST and OCT groups before cholelithotomy (103.0 ± 15.4 vs 99.7 ± 10.2), but increased significantly in the EST group at two weeks (113.4 ± 12.0 vs 107.2 ± 11.2; P < 0.001) and six weeks (120.7 ± 10.6 vs 116.9 ± 7.5; P < 0.05) after the procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EST, compared with OCT, is associated with better postoperative quality of life in patients treated for choledocholithiasis.
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Guang-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Zhao-Shen
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Feng Liu, Zhao-Shen Li, Bin Song, Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001662:Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002681:China; D042883:Choledocholithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Choledocholithiasis; Cholelithotomy; Endoscopic sphincterotomy; Open choledochotomy; Quality of life