Cholecystectomy versus cholecystolithotomy for cholelithiasis in childhood:: Long-term outcome

Background/Purpose: The presence of cholelithiasis is being reported with increased frequency in childhood. Little is known about the natural history of the disease, and only a few studies have been published regarding long-term results of treated patients. Controversy still exists regarding optimal treatment. Both cholecystectomy and cholecystolithotomy with gallbladder preservation have been recommended as the preferred operative intervention. The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term outcome of cholecystectomy versus cholecystolithotomy for symptomatic gallbladder disease in children. Methods: The charts of all patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis treated in the Dublin Paediatric Hospitals during a 25-year period from 1974 till 1999 were reviewed. Data obtained included age, sex, age at presentation of symptoms, methods of diagnosis, indications for operative treatment, time interval between presentation of symptoms and surgery, surgical technique, performance of a preoperative or intraoperative cholangiogram, stone biochemistry, gallbladder histology, radiologic follow-up, the presence of recurrent or residual stones and symptoms, and the need for reoperation. Patient data were grouped according to method of surgery. All parameters were compared and evaluated. Follow-up was by way of telephone contact with all patients and completion of a questionnaire. Results: There were 18 patients over a 25-year period. Eight patients underwent cholecystectomy, and 10 patients had a cholecystolithotomy. Median follow-up was 2 years in the cholecystectomy group and 5 years in the cholecystolithotomy group. All patients in the cholecystectomy group are asymptomatic and have no recurrent or residual stones on follow-up ultrasound scan. Thirty percent of the patients in the cholecystolithotomy group have recurrent right upper quadrant pain, and 30% show recurrent stones 9.5 months (range, 7 to 12 months) postoperatively. One patient underwent cholecystectomy 8.5 months postcholecystolithotomy. Conclusions: The symptomatic high stone recurrence rate postcholecystolithotomy seen in our series suggest that cholecystectomy is the preferred treatment in patients with symptomatic gallbladder disease. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.