title: [Management of pediatric cholelitiasis: our experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this retrospective study was to report our experience about characteristics of clinical presentation, etiologies, diagnosis and medical or surgical treatment of pediatric cholelitiasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four children, ranging from 7 to 17 years of age (14 females and 10 males), with diagnosis of cholelitiasis were studied from 2008 through 2011. Exclusion criteria included: active infection, cholangitis, severe anemia or thrombocytopenia in cases with hemolytic diseases. Diagnosis was performed with abdominal ultrasonography-scanner (US). Furthermore, complete peripheral blood examination was performed to all patients. Follow-up was conducted by clinical and US and/or CT supports between 6 and 24 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in 16 patients, conservative management in 10. No cases of majority morbility or death rate were found. RMN-colangiography was conducted in 2 cases with cholestasis elevated index: no stone were found in common bile duct. During follow-up evaluation, 2 patients began sympotimatic and were undergone to cholecystectomy. "Wait and see" management was performed in all asymptomatic cases. In only 2 cases ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) was administrated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a "gold standard" also for a treatment of cholelitiasis in childhood; it is an efficacy and safe treatment also for pediatric gallstones. Medical therapy with UDCA lead not to dissolution of gallstones but it had a positive effect on the symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Perugia, Perugia, Italia - tantalina85@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cofini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Favoriti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pietrantoni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quadrozzi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid