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Cholecystectomy for gall bladder dyskinesia: symptom resolution and satisfaction in a rural surgical practice.

BACKGROUND: Gall bladder dyskinesia describes a clinical entity with symptoms of biliary colic but without objective evidence of gallstones. Recent work has suggested laparoscopic cholecystectomy as an effective treatment although this approach has not gained widespread acceptance in Australia. METHODS: At the sole nuclear medicine facility in Mildura, Victoria, a retrospective search of patients with gallbladder ejection fractions </=35% on CCK-HIDA (cholecystokinin-99mTc hepatoiminodiacetic acid) scanning over a 3-year period from 1 January 1998 was undertaken. Twenty-eight patients proceeded to cholecystectomy by the author and case notes were reviewed for symptoms, preoperative investigation, operation, pathology and complications. Telephone follow-up was carried out assessing symptom response and overall satisfaction following operation. RESULTS: Follow up was achieved in 100% of patients with a mean duration of 18 months. Twenty-five of 28 underwent chole-cystectomy by laparoscopic approach and there were no complications in the series. All gall bladders demonstrated an abnormality at histology. Overall, 79% of patients had some symptom improvement at follow-up with 29% completely symptom free. Six patients (21%) were not improved following cholecystectomy. Overall satisfaction was high with a median 8/10. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended for gallbladder dyskinesia diagnosed on CCK-HIDA scanning, after other causes have been excluded and informed discussion regarding incomplete symptom resolution has been undertaken. Improvement without operation occurs only in the minority and is rarely complete. Cholecystectomy affords at least partial symptom relief in the majority with high levels of patient satisfaction.

Adult↗

Intestinal cancer after cholecystectomy: is bile involved in carcinogenesis?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Results concerning an association between cholecystectomy and right-sided colon cancer are inconsistent. Little is known about the relation between cholecystectomy and small bowel cancer. Therefore, we evaluated cholecystectomy and risk of bowel cancer. METHODS: Cholecystectomized patients, identified through the Swedish Inpatient Register, from 1965 through 1997, were followed up for subsequent cancer. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) estimated relative risk. RESULTS: In total, 278,460 cholecystectomized patients, contributing 3,519,682 person-years, were followed up for a maximum of 33 years after surgery. Cholecystectomized patients had an increased risk of proximal intestinal adenocarcinoma, which gradually declined with increasing distance from the common bile duct. The risk was significantly increased for adenocarcinoma (SIR, 1.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-2.24) and carcinoids of the small bowel (SIR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.39-2.08), and right-sided colon cancer (SIR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.24). No association was found with more distal bowel cancer. The gradient was further pronounced when surgery of the common bile duct was included. The associations remained increased up to 33 years after cholecystectomy. No differences between sexes were found. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystectomy increases the risk of intestinal cancer, a risk that declines with increasing distance from the common bile duct. Changes in the intestinal exposure to bile might be the underlying biological mechanism.

Adenocarcinoma↗

[Prevention of bile duct injuries after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. "The critical view of safety"].

INTRODUCTION: Iatrogenic injuries of the bile duct and hepatic artery represent a continuous problem after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this observational study we report about our experiences applying the "critical view of safety", defined as unambiguous identification of the cystic duct and artery by creation of an infundibular window, in order to minimise bile duct lesions and conversion rate. METHODS: Between July 2002 and November 2004 100 consecutive laparoscopicly started cholecystectomies were prospectively investigated. The central surgical step of dissection aimed at reaching the "critical view of safety" and its photo printing before cutting the cystic duct and artery, otherwise a conversion was carried out without exception. Primary endpoints of the study were the conversion rate, secondary endpoints the incidence of intra- and postoperative complications, operation time and histological results. RESULTS: 53 of the 100 primary laparoscopic operated patients showed the signs of an acute cholecystitis, 44 patients offered partially multiple abdominal operations in their history. In 19 patients we performed a "therapeutic splitting". Only in 3 patients it was not possible to apply the "critical view of safety" resulting in a conversion to open cholecystectomy. The mean operation time was 81 minutes and the postoperative hospital stay ranged to 5.4 (1-18) days. Postoperatively an insufficiency of cystic duct, a navel infection, an abdominal wall haematoma, an urinary tract infection and a pneumonia occurred in one patient each. DISCUSSION: Pivotal factors leading to bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are systematic mistakes in the surgical technique, an insufficient surgical training and human failure of the surgeon. The introduction of the "critical view of safety" represents an objective, understandable and compulsory criterion for minimising the risk of iatrogenic injuries of the bile duct and decision on conversion to open cholecystectomy.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: To reduce the rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy, and to avoid retained bile duct stones, it is essential to detect choledocholithiasis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness and safety of performing endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the diagnosis of choledocholithiasis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-two patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis were evaluated prospectively using standard abdominal ultrasonography (US), US plus EUS, and US plus endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) for the detection of choledocholithiasis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (21.2%) had choledocholithiasis, and six patients with common bile duct stones had normal-sized ducts on US. The common bile duct was successfully examined in all patients using EUS, but only in 65.9% of patients when US was used and 94.7% of patients when ERC was used. US plus EUS detected choledocholithiasis in 25 of 28 patients (89.3%), US in 19 of 28 patients (67.9%), and US plus ERC in 26 of 28 patients (92.9%). While no complications as a result of EUS were encountered, complications resulting from ERC occurred in seven patients (5.3%), including cholecystitis in two patients, cholangitis in three patients, and pancreatitis in two patients. In view of the complication and failure rates, EUS appears to offer significant advantages over ERC. These results suggest that EUS is more sensitive than standard abdominal ultrasonography, and as sensitive as ERC. CONCLUSIONS: EUS appears to be as sensitive as, and safer than, ERC in the detection of choledocholithiasis prior to laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde↗

[Cost comparison of laparoscopic cholecystectomy and extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of gallstones].

To aid in the choice between laparoscopic cholecystectomy and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for the treatment of gallstones the costs of the two methods were investigated. A decision tree was constructed so as to set out the initial procedure costs of both techniques and possible subsequent costs due to treatment failure or complications. The computations were based on figures from the University Clinic, Erlangen, in 1993. The direct (medical) costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy amounted to DM 3556, to which must be added further indirect costs of DM 3152 arising from loss of working capacity and premature death. The direct expenses for lithotripsy including outpatient aftercare were DM 6708 and the indirect expenses DM 1858. The overall costs per patient for lithotripsy are hence DM 1858 higher than those of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This cost difference remained substantially unaltered even when the success rates of the two techniques were varied over a wide range. When lithotripsy is performed entirely as an outpatient procedure and inpatient costs hence disappear, the expected overall cost drops from DM 8567 to DM 6381. Omission of the lump sum charge for lithotripsy effects a similar drop in overall costs to DM 6379. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is hence cheaper than lithotripsy. Only if lithotripsy can be performed at very low cost can it compete with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Aftercare↗

[Cholecystectomy, cholelithiasis and cancer of the large intestine].

In a retrospective post-mortem study the connection between the post-cholecystectomy state, cholelithiasis and carcinoma of the large intestine was evaluated in 333 cases and compared with an age and sex matched control group and a group with gastric carcinoma. It was established that cholelithiasis (without cholecystectomy or contracted gallbladder) occurred significantly more frequently (24.9%) in patients with colonic carcinoma than in the control group (15.3%) or the gastric carcinoma group (12.6%) (P less than 0.001). In contrast the rate of cholecystectomy in patients with colonic carcinoma was not significantly increased (6.3%) when compared with both control groups (4.6 and 4.8%). Separate assessment of males and females showed that females had cholecystectomy and contracted gallbladder significantly more frequently (P less than 0.05). These figures suggest that the clinically observed association between cholecystectomy and colonic carcinoma reflects only a - not necessarily causative - connection between gallstone disease and colonic carcinoma.

Aged↗

Cost analysis of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children.

A detailed analysis of the hospital-related costs of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in children was performed. Data on 10 laparoscopic cholecystectomies were collected prospectively. Pre-, intra- and postoperative variables were assessed by standardized questionnaires. The hotel costs and costs for nursing, physicians, medicaments and equipment were calculated in detail. Reusable instruments were assumed to be used for 50 operations per year over 5 years and the costs for disposable instruments were calculated for comparison. In addition, the data of 10 children who underwent open cholecystectomy were analyzed retrospectively. The mean hospital costs for one laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 3685 DM. The costs for the operation itself represented 36.5% of the hospital costs and were mainly due to expenses for surgeons and nurses. The costs for laparoscopic equipment and instruments represented only 8.5% of the total costs. If an open procedure instead of a laparoscopic operation had been performed with a similar duration of hospital stay, the hospital costs would have been reduced by 425 DM (11.5%). In laparoscopic cholecystectomy the costs for medical treatment in addition to the operation were 32.8% of the total costs and were mainly due to expenses for nursing and physicians, which added up to 165 DM per day. The hotel costs represented 30.7% of the total costs and added another 189 DM per day. Therefore, potential savings in the operation theatre are limited and most effective savings may be achieved by shortening the hospital stay. The use of disposable instruments would have increased the costs by 844 DM and already 20 operations per year would have been cheaper performed with reusable compared to disposable instruments. Reusable instruments are recommended. Additional 60 minutes operating time cost 312 DM (5.20 DM/minute) and therefore, laparoscopic training courses for surgeons may be cost-effective in order to reduce the costs for training in the operation theatre.

Child↗

Management of gallstone pancreatitis: cholecystectomy or ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy.

BACKGROUND: Currently, cholecystectomy is recommended for patients with gallstone-induced pancreatitis. ERCP with endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) within 24 to 48 hours is also suggested for the treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to determine outcome after cholecystectomy versus ES alone in patients with gallstone pancreatitis. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients with gallstone pancreatitis were included in this prospective observational study. Inclusion criteria were typical abdominal pain; serum amylase level 3 times or greater than normal; and gallbladder stones and a dilated bile duct, with or without stones, by US, CT, or ERCP. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (Group A) underwent cholecystectomy after initial evaluation including ERCP in 43 (53%) and ERCP with ES in 38 (47%). The remaining 34 (Group B) underwent successful ERCP with ES alone. Mean follow-up was 33 months for Group A and 34 months for Group B. Recurrent gallstone pancreatitis was noted in 2 patients (2.4%) in Group A (bile duct stone in 2, sludge and papillary stenosis in 1), and in 1 patient (2.9%) in Group B. Ten patients in Group B had follow-up US of the gallbladder that showed disappearance of stones in 3. During follow-up, there was no significant difference in the rates of biliary complications (Group A, 3.6% vs. Group B, 11.6%; p = 0.19) or serious complications (pancreatitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis) (Group A, 3.6% vs. Group B, 5.8%). Also, there was no significant difference in procedure-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence of pancreatitis after ERCP with ES alone for gallstone pancreatitis is rare. In patients who have undergone ES alone, cholecystectomy should be considered only if there are overt manifestations of gallbladder disease (e.g., biliary pain, cholecystitis, cystic duct obstruction) and not for prevention of recurrent gallstone pancreatitis. Because treatment by ES alone may be associated with a higher risk of biliary complications during follow-up compared with cholecystectomy, these patients may require close surveillance.

Acute Disease↗

Standard preoperative assessment can improve outcome after cholecystectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of cholecystectomy after standard preoperative handling and selection of patients, focusing on the potential of the operation to eliminate biliary colic. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University Hospital, Norway. PATIENTS: 806 patients (median age 56, range 18-91 years, male:female ratio 1:2.7), were referred to our clinic for cholecystectomy between 1992 and 1996. INTERVENTIONS: Unless there was a clear indication for cholecystectomy (frequent attacks of biliary colic/or recent complications of gallstones or both), patients were investigated in a standard way to find out what else was causing the abdominal pain. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Residual pain was assessed at a clinical examination three months postoperatively, and clinical condition a median of three years later was assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: 465 (58%) patients were operated on primarily, and an additional 29 patients were operated on after further evaluation. Three months after cholecystectomy, 35 (7%) had persistent pain, mostly caused by other specific diseases and relieved after specific treatment. A median 3 years postoperatively, only 21 (4%) reported that they still had abdominal pain. CONCLUSION: Standard selection of patient improved the outcome of cholecystectomy. Compared with a historical control group, residual pain after three months was reduced from 20% to 7%. After three years, 96% of the patients no longer had their main clinical problem.

Adolescent↗

Pain and convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Pain and speed of convalescence are the two main problems after uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We therefore identified interventional and descriptive studies in electronic databases and supplemented them with manual searches. Pain and interventional analgesic studies were analysed with reference to the effects on specific pain components after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Convalescence and factors associated with early recovery were also analysed. Pain after cholecystectomy is most intense for the first 2-3 days with a high interindividual variability and dominated by incisional pain rather than other pain components. Early pain after cholecystectomy is reduced by minimising residual pneumoperitoneum and by giving incisional local anaesthetics, epidural analgesia, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. There are inconclusive data about type and pressure of pneumoperitoneum, the use of intraperitoneal local anaesthetics, and the type of general anaesthesia. Pain and medico-cultural traditions are the main factors responsible for prolonged convalescence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To minimise pain and the duration of convalescence, we recommend multi-modal analgesic treatment in combination with short, standardised instructions to resume work and normal activity.

Analgesics↗

Mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cosmetically better, almost scarless procedure.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the most common laparoscopic operation in the world and is accepted as the standard procedure for cholecystectomy. Although use of miniendoscope in diagnosis of gynecological disease has been performed for decades, using a 2-mm mini-laparoscope for cholecystectomy is new. From November 1996 to January 1997, 14 patients (6 men, 8 women; mean age 47 years) with gallbladder stone disease were treated by mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy at National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. The entire procedure was done through four ports (an 11-mm subumbilical working port, a 2-mm subxiphoid video port, one 2-mm mid-clavicular retraction port, and one anterior axillary retraction port). The operative time for these patients ranged from 30 to 150 min, with an average time of 79.29 min. Suturing was not necessary for the three 2-mm wounds. The estimated blood loss was minimal, and no intraoperative transfusions were required. All patients were able to tolerate feeding within 8 h. The average postoperative hospital stay was 1.57 days. Neither complications nor operation-related mortality were seen. In conclusion, mini-laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe procedure with nearly scarless wounds with a much better cosmetic effect, especially for young female patients.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

Open versus laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an initial analysis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a new procedure in the armamentarium of the general surgeon. Its utility was investigated by comparison to open cholecystectomy in terms of procedure time, complications, hospital stay, and total hospital cost. Procedure time was approximately 200% longer with a higher incidence of intraoperative stone and bile spillage (17%) in the laparoscopic group. Hospital stay was reduced by 60% using the laparoscopic technique. No difference in total hospital cost existed between the two groups. The learning curve had an affect on hospital costs, which will decrease as more experience is gained with this procedure. Although laparoscopic cholecystectomy, at least initially, has no cost advantage over open cholecystectomy, laparoscopic cholecystectomy may be preferred by patients seeking shorter hospital stays and presumably shorter total recovery time.

Adult↗

Risks and benefits of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the community hospital setting.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has rapidly become more popular than open cholecystectomy. To further evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the community setting, the first 190 patients to undergo the procedure in Saginaw, Michigan were studied. There were 159 females and 31 males. The mean age was 47.8 years. All patients had symptoms consistent with biliary tract disease and most had gallstones proven by preoperative ultrasound. The mean operative time was 84 minutes but decreased from 161 minutes the first month of the study to 74 minutes by the seventh month. Eighty-seven percent of patients were tolerating a regular diet by postoperative day 1. Ninety-six percent of patients were requiring only oral pain medications by postoperative day 1. Seventy percent of patients were discharged by postoperative day one while 91% were discharged by postoperative day 2. Six patients were converted to open cholecystectomy due to acute inflammation, significant bleeding or extensive adhesions. There were no deaths and the morbidity rate was 9.5%. The most significant complication was postoperative bile leak which occurred in two patients. Patients returned to work a mean of 16.1 days following surgery and to their normal daily activities at home a mean of 12.9 days postoperatively. This study of the first 190 laparoscopic cholecystectomies in Saginaw affirms the safety and feasibility of this procedure in the community setting in selected patients.

Biliary Tract Diseases↗

A case-control study of cholecystectomy and right-side colon cancer: the influence of alternative data sources and differential interview participation proportions on odds ratio estimates.

One hundred fifty patients with right-side colon cancer (i.e., patients with adenocarcinoma of the cecum or ascending colon) were compared to 150 matched left-side colon cancer controls (i.e., patients with adenocarcinoma of the descending or sigmoid colon) and to 123 neighborhood controls, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, 1975-1978. The gastrointestinal surgical history was ascertained for all study subjects so that the presence or absence of a history of cholecystectomy could be noted. Cholecystectomy history was obtained through telephone interviews and whenever possible subsequently validated from operative and pathology reports at time of cholecystectomy. Cholecystectomy history for the colon cancer patients was also abstracted from hospital records at time of colon cancer diagnosis with an attempt to confirm the gallbladder's status through operative reports, cholecystograms, and physical examinations. Hospital records and interviews for the colon cancer patients appeared to provide accurate exposure history. Point estimates of the odds ratios and confidence intervals for intra- and inter-data source comparisons (i.e., hospital records, interviews, and hospital records and interviews combined) were comparable with similar measures of effect. Consistent odds ratio estimates appeared in both left-side colon cancer controls (1.9) and neighborhood controls (1.89). The authors suggest that changes in bile acid metabolism following cholecystectomy may be associated an increased risk of right-side colon cancer.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: characteristics and effect of intraperitoneal bupivacaine.

Although pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy is less intense than after open cholecystectomy, some patients still experience considerable discomfort. Furthermore, the characteristics of postlaparoscopy pain differ considerably from those seen after laparotomy. Therefore, we investigated the time course of different pain components after laparoscopic cholecystectomy and the effects of intraperitoneal bupivacaine on these different components. Forty ASA physical status grade I-II patients were randomly assigned to receive either 80 mL of bupivacaine 0.125% with epinephrine 1/200,000 (n = 20) or the same volume of saline (n = 20) instilled under the right hemidiaphragm at the end of surgery. Intensity of total pain, visceral pain, parietal pain, and shoulder pain was assessed 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h after surgery. Analgesic consumption was also recorded. Patient data were similar in the two groups. In the saline group, visceral pain was significantly more intense than parietal pain at each time point; visceral and parietal pain were greater than shoulder pain during the first 8 h postoperatively. Intraperitoneal bupivacaine did not significantly affect any of the different components of postoperative pain. Analgesic consumption was similar in the two groups. This study demonstrates that visceral pain accounts for most of the pain experienced after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraperitoneal bupivacaine is not effective for treating any type of pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Abdominal Muscles↗

Multi-regional local anesthetic infiltration during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients receiving prophylactic multi-modal analgesia: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

UNLABELLED: Pain is the dominant complaint after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. No study has examined the combined effects of a somato-visceral blockade during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Therefore, we investigated the effects of a somato-visceral local anesthetic blockade on pain and nausea in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In addition, all patients received multi-modal prophylactic analgesic treatment. Fifty-eight patients were randomized to receive a total of 286 mg (66 mL) ropivacaine or 66 mL saline via periportal and intraperitoneal infiltration. During the first 3 postoperative h, the use of morphine and antiemetics was registered, and pain and nausea were rated hourly. Daily pain intensity, pain localization, and supplemental analgesic consumption were registered the first postoperative week. Ropivacaine reduced overall pain the first two hours and incisional pain for the first three postoperative hours (P < 0.01) but had no apparent effects on intraabdominal or shoulder pain. During the first 3 postoperative h, morphine requirements were lower (P < 0.05), and nausea was reduced in the ropivacaine group (P < 0.05). Throughout the first postoperative week, incisional pain dominated over other pain localizations in both groups (P < 0.01). We conclude that the somato-visceral local anesthetic blockade reduced overall pain during the first 2 postoperative h, and nausea, morphine requirements, and incisional pain were reduced during the first 3 postoperative h in patients receiving prophylactic multi-modal analgesic treatment. IMPLICATIONS: A combination of incisional and intraabdominal local anesthetic treatment reduced incisional pain but had no effect on deep intraabdominal pain or shoulder pain in patients receiving multimodal prophylactic analgesia after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Incisional pain dominated during the first postoperative week. Incisional infiltration of local anesthetics is recommended in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Abdominal Pain↗

Small-dose dexamethasone reduces nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a comparison of tropisetron with saline.

UNLABELLED: Dexamethasone is an effective antiemetic drug, but the efficacy of small-dose dexamethasone 5 mg on the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy has not been evaluated. We, therefore, evaluated the prophylactic effect of small-dose dexamethasone (5 mg) on PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Tropisetron and saline served as controls. One-hundred-twenty patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. At the induction of anesthesia, the Dexamethasone group received IV dexamethasone 5 mg, the Tropisetron group received IV tropisetron 2 mg, and the Placebo group received IV saline. We found that both dexamethasone and tropisetron significantly decreased the following variables: the total incidence of PONV (P < 0.01), more than four vomiting episodes (P < 0.05), and the proportions of patients requiring rescue antiemetics (P < 0.05). The differences between the Dexamethasone and Tropisetron groups were not significant. We conclude that prophylactic IV dexamethasone 5 mg significantly reduces the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. At this dose, dexamethasone is as effective as tropisetron 2 mg and is more effective than placebo. IMPLICATIONS: We evaluated the prophylactic effect of small-dose dexamethasone (5 mg) on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Tropisetron (2 mg) and saline served as controls. We found that dexamethasone 5 mg (IV) significantly reduced the incidence of PONV in these patients, and, at this dose, dexamethasone was as effective as tropisetron and was more effective than placebo.

Adult↗

Postvagotomy and cholecystectomy syndrome.

Seventy-five patients with unsatisfactory results following vagotomy, drainage and cholecystectomy have been reviewed. The operations were performed together in 45 patients, vagotomy preceded cholecystectomy in 16 patients and cholecystectomy was performed before vagotomy in 14 patients. The interval between the two operations when cholecystectomy was performed first was 7.1 +/- 1.66 SE years, whereas when vagotomy was performed first this was 3.1 +/- 1.03 SE years (p less than 0.05). Forty-three patients had symptomatic bile reflux gastritis and 59 had postvagotomy diarrhea. Dumping, bilious vomiting and recurrent peptic ulceration occurred in 11 patients, nine and five patients, respectively, and were no more frequently encountered than would have been expected after vagotomy and drainage alone. In the light of the information derived from the addition of cholecystectomy to vagotomy and drainage a pathophysiology of postvagotomy diarrhea without dumping, and bile reflux gastritis without bilious vomiting or recurrent chronic peptic ulceration is postulated.

Adolescent↗