Skip to main content
Log in

Prophylactic Cholecystectomy, a Mandatory Step in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic gallstone disease requiring cholecystectomy (CCE) after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) and to identify the peri-operative risk factors associated with postoperative symptomatic gallstone disease.

Methods

Between August 2003 and November 2009, 724 patients underwent LRYGBP at the Groeninge Hospital. Preoperative ultrasound was performed in 600 of 641 patients without history of CCE and 120 (20.0%) were diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis.

Result

Six hundred twenty-five patients were included, 43(6.9%) developed delayed symptoms related to biliary disease. Of these 43 patients, 39 underwent post-LRYGBP CCE. Of these 39 patients, 9 (7.5%) had a positive ultrasound prior to LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGB of more than 50% of excess weight [HR (95% CI), 2.04 (1.04–4.28); p = 0.037) as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis.

Conclusions

Symptomatic gallstone disease occurred only in 6.9% of patients post-LRYGBP. Multivariate analysis identified weight loss at 3 months post-LRYGBP of more than 50% of excess weight as the sole significant independent predictor of delayed symptomatic cholecystolithiasis. Prophylactic CCE should not be recommended at the time of LRYGBP.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Must A, Spadano J, Coakley EH, Field AE, Colditz G, Dietz WH The disease burden associated with overweight and obesity. JAMA 1999; 282: 1523–1529

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Overweight, obesity, and health risk. National Task Force on the prevention and treatment of obesity. Arch Intern Med 2000 160: 898–904

    Google Scholar 

  3. Buchwald H, Avidor Y, Braunwald E, Jensen MD, Pories W, Fahrbach K, Schoelles K. Bariatric surgery: a systematic reviaw and meta-analysis. JAMA 2004; 292: 1724–1737

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Maggard MA, Shugarman LR, Suttorp M, Maglione M, Sugerman HJ, Livingston EH, Nguyen NT, Li Z, Mojica WA, Hilton L, Rhodes S, Morton SC, Shekelle PG. Meta-analysis: surgical treatment of obesity. Ann Intern Med. 2005; 142: 547–559

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carey MC. Pathogenesis of gallstones. Am J Surg. 1993; 165: 410–419.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Schmidt JH, Hocking MP, Rout WR, Woodward ER. The case for prophylactic cholecystectomy concomitant with gastric restriction for morbid obesity. Am Surg. 1988; 54: 269–272.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Scott DJ, Villegas L, Sims TL, Hamilton EC, Provost DA, Jones DB. Intraoperative ultrasound and prophylactic ursodiol for gallstone prevention following laparoscopic gastric bypass. Surg Endosc. 2003; 17: 1796–1802.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Amaral JF, Thompson WR. Gallbladder disease in the morbidly obese. Am J Surg. 1985; 149: 551–557.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Shiffman ML, Sugerman HJ, Kellum JM, Brewer WH, Moore EW. Gallstone formation after rapid weight loss: a prospective study in patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery for treatment for treatment of morbid obesity. Am J gastroenterol 1991; 86: 1000–1005.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sugerman HJ, Brewer WH, Shiffman ML, Brolin RE, Fobi MA, Linner JH, MacDonald KG, MacGregor AM, Martin LF, Oram-Smith JC. A multicenter placebo-controlled, randomized double blind, prospective trial of prophylactic ursodiol for the prevention of gallstone formation following gastric bypass-induced rapid weight loss. Am J Surg. 1995; 169: 91–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Weinsier RL, Ullmann DO. Gallstone formation and weight loss. Obes Res. 1993; 1: 51–56.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Patel KR, White SC, Tejirian T, Han SH, Russell D, Vira D, Liao L, Patel KB, Gracia C, Haigh P, Dutson E, Mehran A. Gallbladder management during laparoscopic Roux–en-Y gastric bypass surgery : routine preoperatieve screening for gallstones and postoperatieve prophylactic medical treatment are not necessary. Am Surg 2006; 72: 857–861.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Wudel LJ Jr, Wrigh JK, Debelak JP, Allos TM, Shyr Y, Chapman WC. Prevention of gallstone formation in morbidly obese patients undergoing rapid weight loss: results of a randomized controlled pilot study. J Surg Res 2002; 102: 50–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Tucker ON, Fajnwaks P, Szomstein S, Rosenthal RJ. Is concomitant cholecystectomy necessary in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery? Surg Endosc 2008; 22: 2450–2454.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Shiffman ML, Sugerman HJ, Kellum JM, Brewer WH, Moore EW. Gallstones in patients with morbid obesity. Relationship to body weight, weight loss and gallbladder bile cholesterol solubility. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1993; 17: 153–158

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Dittrick GW, Thompson JS, Campos D, Bremers D, Sudan D. Gallbladder pathology in morbid obesity. Obes Surg 2005; 13: 238–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Shiffman ML, Sugerman HJ, Kellum JM, Moore EW. Changes in gallbladder bile composition following gallstone formation and weight reduction. Gastroenterology 1992; 103: 214–221

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shiffman ML, Shamburek RD, Schwarz CC, Sugerman HJ, Kellum JM, Moore EW. Gallbladder mucin, arachidonic acid, and bile lipids in patients who develop gallstones during weight reduction. Gastroenterology 1993; 105: 1200–1208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Worobetz LJ, Inglis FG, Shaffer EA. The effect of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy on gallstone formation n the morbidly obese during rapid weight loss. Am J Gastroenterol. 1993; 88(10): 1705–1710

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Fakhry SM, Herbst CA, Buckwalter JA. Cholecystectomy in morbidly obese patients. Am Surg 1987; 53: 26–28

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. O’Brien PE, Dixon JB. A rational approach to cholelithiasis in bariatric surgery. Arch Surg 2003; 138: 908–912

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sakorafas GH, Millingos D, Peros G. Asymptomatic cholelithiasis: is cholecystectomy really needed? A critical reappraisal 15 years after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Dig. Dis. Sci. 2007; 52: 1313–1325

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Li VK, Pulido N, Fajnwaks P, Szomstein S, Rosenthal R, Martinez-Duartez P. Predictors of gallstone formation after bariatric surgery: a multivariate analysis of risk factors comparing gastric bypass, gastric banding, and sleeve gastrectomy. Surg Endosc 2009; 23: 1640–1644

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fobi M, Lee H, Igwe D, Felahy B, James E, Stanczyk M, Fobi N. Prophylactic cholecystectomy with gastric bypass operation: incidence of gallbladder disease. Obes Surg 2002; 12: 350–353

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Liem RK, Niloff PH. Prophylactic cholecystectomy with open gastric bypass operation. Obes Surg 2004; 14: 763–765

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Csendes A, Burdiles P, Smok G, Csendes P, Burgos A, Recio M. Histologic findings of gallbladder mucosa in 87 patients with morbid obesity without gallstones compared to 87 control subjects. J Gastrointest Surg 2003; 7: 547–551

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Caruana JA, McCabe MN, Smith AD Camara DS, Mercer MA, Gillespie JA. Incidence of symptomatic gallstones after gastric bypass: is prophylactic treatment really necessary? Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2005; 1: 564–567

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Guadalajara H, Sanz Baro R, Pascual I, Blesa I, Rotundo GS, López JM, Corripio R, Vesperinas G, Sancho LG, Montes JA. Is prophylactic cholecystectomy useful in obese patients undergoing gastric bypass? Obes Surg 2006; 16: 883–885

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Ellner SJ, Myers TT, Priorkowiski JR, Mavanur AA, Barba CA.. Routine cholecystectomy is not madatory during morbid obesity surgery. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007; 3: 456–460

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Portenier DD, Grant JP, Blackwood HS Pryor A, McMahon RL, DeMaria E. Expectant management of the asymptomatic gallbladder at Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007; 4: 476–479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Livingston EH, Rege RV. A nationwide study of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Am J Surg 2004; 188: 205–211

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosures

None

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mathieu D’Hondt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

D’Hondt, M., Sergeant, G., Deylgat, B. et al. Prophylactic Cholecystectomy, a Mandatory Step in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass?. J Gastrointest Surg 15, 1532–1536 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-011-1617-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-011-1617-4

Keywords

Navigation