Management of gallstones and gallbladder disease in patients undergoing gastric bypass (original) (raw)

Gallbladder stones in bariatrics and management of choledocholithiasis after gastric bypass

International Journal of Gastrointestinal Intervention

It is known that the rapid weight loss is a predisposing factor to develop biliary lithiasis. The physiopathology is related with an oversaturation of bile with cholesterol, bile stasis, and increase in mucin concentration in bile. The incidence of cholelithiasis post gastric bypass is estimated around 37%. Almost 50% developed disease in the first year of monitoring, and 60% in the first 6 months. Meanwhile the patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy have an incidence of cholelithiasis of 27%. Diverse kinds of protocols exist: prophylactic surgery (simultaneous cholecystectomy and gastric bypass in every patients, whether they have or not cholelithiasis), elective (simultaneous cholecystectomy with conventional gastric bypass in the patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis), and conventional cholecystectomy only in the presence of cholelithiasis with symptoms. Which way to go is still a topic of discussion among surgeons but the majority agree that prophylactic surgery shouldn't be an option because the number of patients that will develop symptomatic cholelithiasis is low (around 6% to 8% of them) and this leads to an elevated number of patients exposed to an unnecessary procedure with potential complications. The presence of gallstones in the common bile duct (CBD) although is a rare complication after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (around 0.2% of the bariatric patients) represents an important challenge due to the anatomical modifications of the gastrointestinal tract. This leads to having to pursue other methods to reach the papillae for the resolution of choledocholithiasis: laparoscopyassisted transgastric endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), balloon enteroscopy assisted ERCP, percutaneous biliary drainage with subsequent trans fistula treatment and laparoscopic exploration of CBD. Which of these methods should we choose must be based on the surgeon experience, the equipment available and the location of the stone. But whatever the method, a special training is needed on endoscopy, percutaneous surgery and laparoscopy.

Management of Common Bile Duct Stones Encountered During Cholecystectomy in Patients With Previous Gastric Bypass

Frontiers in Surgery, 2021

Background: Rapid weight loss following gastric bypass (GBP) predisposes to the development of gallstones, and in those who develop gallstone disease there is a high prevalence of common bile duct stones (CBDS). Furthermore, in these patients, CBDS are difficult to extract due to the altered upper gastrointestinal anatomy following GBP. The aim of the present study was to assess outcome after various management methods applied in the counties of Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden. Methods: Data from the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks) and the Swedish Obesity Surgery Register (SoReg) were crossmatched to identify all patients who had undergone gallstone surgery after GBP, where CBDS were found at intraoperative cholangiography, in the Stockholm and Uppsala counties 2009–2013. A retrospective review of patient records was performed for all patients identified. Results: In all, 55 patients were identified. These were managed as follows: expectancy (N = 11); transg...

Eight-Centimeter Gallbladder Stone Post-Roux- en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Case Report

Cureus, 2023

Cholelithiasis occurs when a stone forms in the gallbladder; when symptoms develop, the condition is termed symptomatic cholelithiasis. The correlation between bariatric surgery and post-operative symptomatic cholelithiasis has long been established. Presented is a case of a 56-year-old female status post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass who developed symptomatic cholelithiasis and subsequently underwent cholecystectomy with the removal of an 8-centimeter (cm) gallbladder stone. This case report explores the benefits and limitations of watchful waiting versus prophylactic concomitant cholecystectomy among bariatric surgery patients, noting the difference between the bariatric sleeve and bypass anatomy for managing biliary complications.

Is Routine Cholecystectomy Required During Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass?

Obesity Surgery, 2004

Background: Routine cholecystectomy is often performed at the time of gastric bypass for morbid obesity. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of gallstone formation requiring cholecystectomy following a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP).

Prophylactic Cholecystectomy with GastricBypass Operation:Incidenceof GallbladderDisease

Background: Morbid obesity is one of the major risk factors for gallbladder disease, and this risk is even greater following rapid weight loss. Because of this, prophylactic cholecystectomy has been offered to our patients undergoing the transected silastic ring vertical Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (TSRVRYGBP). A study was undertaken to determine the incidence of pathologic gallbladders in patients undergoing this prophylactic cholecystectomy.

Systematic Review of Management of Gallbladder Disease in Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Bariatric Surgery

Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases

The introduction and subsequent widespread adaptation of minimally invasive approaches for bariatric surgery have not only changed the outcomes of bariatric surgery but also called into question the management of co-morbid surgical conditions, in particular gallbladder disease. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Foregut Committee performed a systematic review of the published literature from 1995-2018 on management of gallbladder disease in patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The papers reviewed generated the following results. (1) Routine prophylactic cholecystectomy at the time of bariatric surgery is not recommended. (2) In symptomatic patients who are undergoing bariatric surgery, concomitant cholecystectomy is acceptable and safe. (3) Ursodeoxycholic acid may be considered for gallstone formation prophylaxis during the period of rapid weight loss. (4) Routine preoperative screening and postoperative surveillance ultrasound is not recommended in asymptomatic patients. In the era of minimally invasive surgery, the management of gallbladder disease in patients undergoing bariatric surgery continues to evolve.

Incidence of Gallstone Formation and Cholecystectomy 10 Years After Bariatric Surgery

Obesity surgery, 2015

Rapid weight loss is a risk factor for gallstone formation, and postoperative treatment options for gallstone formation are still part of scientific discussion. No prospective studies monitored the incidence for gallstone formation and subsequent cholecystectomy after bariatric surgery longer than 5 years. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of gallstone formation and cholecystectomy in bariatric patients over 10 years. One hundred nine patients were observed over 10 years after laparoscopic gastric banding or gastric bypass/gastric sleeve. The incidence of gallstone formation and cholecystectomy was correlated to longitudinal changes in anthropometric parameters. In total, 91 female and 18 male patients were examined. Nineteen patients had postoperative gallstone formation, and 12 female patients required cholecystectomy. The number needed to harm for gallstone formation was 7.1 and 2.3 cases in the banding group and gastric bypass/gastric sleeve group, respectively...

A rational approach to cholelithiasis in bariatric surgery

Archives of Surgery, 2003

Background: Gallstones are more common in the obese population and may be formed during rapid weight loss. A rational approach to the management of the gallbladder should be incorporated into bariatric surgical practice. It has been recommended that patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass have routine cholecystectomy regardless of gallstone status. We analyzed the outcomes of a noninterventionist policy on 1000 patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. Hypothesis: Patients scheduled for adjustable gastric banding should undergo investigation for and treatment of gallbladder disease regardless of symptoms. Methods: Patients were screened preoperatively for symptoms of gallstones. Ultrasound examination was performed only in those with symptoms and, if stones were present, cholecystectomy was performed with gastric banding. The remaining patients were followed up clinically and outcomes were noted. Results: A total of 1000 patients were followed up for 12 to 96 months, a total of approximately 3500 patientyears. Cholecystectomy was performed in 181 patients before and 10 at gastric banding surgery. Of the 809 patients at risk, 55 (6.8%) presented with symptomatic disease during follow-up and proceeded to undergo elective cholecystectomy without complications from the disease or the treatment. Conclusions: The incidence of cholecystectomy after gastric banding surgery was not different from the expected rate for a nonsurgical obese population. In contrast, after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, a median of 40% of patients form stones in the postoperative period, and prophylactic cholecystectomy may be justified. Our data indicate that a noninterventionist approach to the gallbladder is appropriate for patients undergoing adjustable gastric banding surgery.