title: Incidental cholecystectomy in patients with asymptomatic gallstones undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The feasibility of incidental cholecystectomy during colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery has not been determined as yet. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of incidental cholecystectomy during CRC surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinicopathologic data of patients who underwent CRC surgery between January 2004 and May 2011 were assessed. Patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis were divided into groups that did and did not undergo incidental cholecystectomy. Their in-hospital morbidity and long-term biliary complications were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 282 patients identified, 143 (50.7%) underwent incidental cholecystectomy and 139 (49.3%) were observed without cholecystectomy. The two groups were similar in clinical characteristics, except for gender and operation time. Only one patient (0.7%) in the cholecystectomy group experienced an intraoperative biliary complication. There was no significant difference in overall in-hospital morbidity between the two groups. After a median follow-up period of 33 months, long-term biliary complications developed in 12 patients (8.6%) in the observation group, with 9 undergoing cholecystectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Incidental cholecystectomy was not associated with increased postoperative morbidity, whereas previously asymptomatic patients were at substantial long-term risk of becoming symptomatic. Thus, in the absence of clear contraindications, concomitant cholecystectomy might be a desirable treatment option during CRC surgery in patients with asymptomatic gallstones.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical School, Hwasun, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Je-ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Duck-Woo
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jangho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Heung-Kwon
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Myong Hoon
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ihn
authors.forename: Ho-Seong
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jae Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sang Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung-Bum
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D042882:Gallstones / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome