Bowel habit after cholecystectomy: Physiological changes and clinical implications
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Scarce data suggest that cholecystectomy may alter bowel habit. The aim of this study was to determine whether cholecystectomy modifies gut transit. METHODS: Five experimental groups were studied: 29 patients with uncomplicated gallstones before and 1 month after elective cholecystectomy, 22 patients 4 years after elective cholecystectomy, 14 patients with postcholecystectomy diarrhea, 5 patients with acute infectious diarrhea (disease controls), and 13 patients before and 1 month after other elective surgery (surgical controls). All participants underwent measurement of colonic transit by a modified radiopaque pellet method and orocecal transit by the standard lactulose breath H2 test. RESULTS: One month postoperatively, cholecystectomy had substantially accelerated total colonic transit (51 +/- 5 hours before vs. 38 +/- 5 hours after; P < 0.05) and delayed slightly orocecal transit (80 +/- 4 minutes before vs. 103 +/- 8 minutes after; P = 0.05). Similar colonic and orocecal transit times were measured 4 years after cholecystectomy (40 +/- 4 hours and 105 +/- 8 minutes, respectively). Colonic transit times in patients with the postcholecystectomy diarrhea syndrome were accelerated as much as in patients with infectious diarrhea, who served as controls (19 +/- 3 hours and 15 +/- 4 hours, respectively). Surgery per se had no effect on gut transit. CONCLUSIONS: Cholecystectomy shortens gut transit by accelerating colonic passage. These sequelae develop early and persist at least 4 years after cholecystectomy. The postcholecystectomy diarrhea syndrome probably represents a magnification of the above colonic sequelae. (Gastroenterology 1996 Sep;111(3):617-22)
References (0)
Cited by (83)
Is Cholecystectomy Really Harmful? A Long-Term Quality of Life Study in Living Donor Liver Transplantation
2020, Transplantation ProceedingsLiving donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an accepted option for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, it potentially carries the risk of donor morbi-mortality, as well as long-term functional impairment. Cholecystectomy is performed routinely in the donor intervention, but the long-term effect on gastrointestinal (GI)-related quality of life (QoL) has never been explored previously. This study evaluated living donors' overall, abdominal wall-related, activity-level, and GI-related QoL.
In total, 21 living liver donors (LLD) (57% women, mean age 45 ± 9 years) were compared to a control group (29 patients) undergoing cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps (45% women, mean age of 46 ± 7 years). LLD and controls (Ctl) were divided into 2 age groups: LLD-Y and Ctl-Y (25-45 years); and LLD-O and Ctl-O (46-65 years). Generic SF-36, Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index, EuraHS for abdominal wall status assessment, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were performed. Standard age-adjusted Portuguese population SF-36 scores were used.
Global QoL results were better than Portuguese population scores and not inferior when compared to controls, scoring higher in the LLD-Y group in domains as vitality and mental health (P < .05). The abdominal wall impact was minimal among LLD. The activity level was significantly higher in LLD-Y than in Ctl-Y. Overall GI-related QoL was very close to the maximum score, and GI symptoms were significantly less in LLD-O compared with Ctl-O.
LDLT had no impact on donors’ general, abdominal wall–related QoL or activity level. The performance of cholecystectomy apparently had no impact on the development of GI-related symptoms.
Low-fat diet after cholecystectomy: Should it be systematically recommended?
2020, Cirugia EspanolaA pesar de la falta de evidencia, tradicionalmente se ha recomendado seguir una dieta baja en grasas tras la colecistectomía. El objetivo principal fue analizar la correlación potencial entre los síntomas postoperatorios y el tipo de dieta tras la colecistectomía.
Los síntomas fueron evaluados de forma prospectiva mediante el cuestionario Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) antes de la intervención, al mes y 6 meses después de la colecistectomía en 83 pacientes operados en nuestro centro. Los pacientes completaron un cuestionario sobre su dieta y fueron clasificados en 4 grupos de acuerdo a la cantidad de grasa ingerida. Las diferencias en la puntuación GIQLI dependiendo del tipo de dieta se evaluaron en el tiempo.
La puntuación GIQLI total y varias dimensiones aumentaron significativamente tras la cirugía respecto al valor basal, independientemente de la ingesta de grasa en la dieta. Entre los síntomas evaluados por el GIQLI, la diarrea y la urgencia defecatoria empeoraron mientras que el estreñimiento mejoró. Más del 50% de los pacientes experimentaron cambios en el ritmo deposicional después de la cirugía, que fueron persistentes durante 6 meses en el 23% de los casos.
La dieta baja en grasas no parece influir en la mejoría de los síntomas tras la colecistectomía. No obstante, los resultados de un estudio aleatorizado que se está realizando en nuestro centro contribuirán a confirmar los resultados de este estudio prospectivo.
Even though evidence is lacking, a low-fat diet has been traditionally recommended after cholecystectomy. The main aim of this study was to assess the potential correlation between postoperative symptoms and type of diet after cholecystectomy.
Symptoms were prospectively assessed by the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) score at baseline, one month and 6 months after cholecystectomy in 83 patients operated on at our institution. Patients completed a questionnaire about their diet and were classified into 4 groups according to the amount of fat intake. Differences in the GIQLI score depending on the type of diet were assessed over time.
The overall GIQLI score and most subdomains significantly increased after surgery compared to baseline, regardless of the intake of dietary fat. Constipation improved after cholecystectomy compared to baseline, whereas diarrhea and bowel urgency got worse. More than 50% of patients experienced a change in their bowel habit after surgery, which persisted 6 months later in 23% of cases.
A low fat diet does not seem to have an influence on the improvement of symptoms after cholecystectomy. However, a randomized study is ongoing at our institution to confirm the results of this prospective study.
Cholecystectomy and risk of metabolic syndrome
2018, European Journal of Internal MedicineCitation Excerpt :This novel anatomical condition, by increasing bacterial deconjugation and dehydroxylation of BAs, leads to increased proportion of secondary BAs[90,92,96–99] within accelerated intestinal recycling and likely changes in the intestinal microbiota [96,100]. Such changes might induce osmotic diarrhea, secondary to accelerated colonic transit time [93]. The metabolic effects of cholecystectomy are mediated by elevated serum BA concentrations, increased tissue exposure to BAs and increased basal metabolic rate [101], likely GPBAR-1-mediated effect.
The gallbladder physiologically concentrates and stores bile during fasting and provides rhythmic bile secretion both during fasting and in the postprandial phase to solubilize dietary lipids and fat-soluble vitamins. Bile acids (BAs), major lipid components of bile, play a key role as signaling molecules in modulating gene expression related to cholesterol, BA, glucose and energy metabolism. Cholecystectomy is the most commonly performed surgical procedure worldwide in patients who develop symptoms and/or complications of cholelithiasis of any type. Cholecystectomy per se, however, might cause abnormal metabolic consequences, i.e., alterations in glucose, insulin (and insulin-resistance), lipid and lipoprotein levels, liver steatosis and the metabolic syndrome. Mechanisms are likely mediated by the abnormal transintestinal flow of BAs, producing metabolic signaling that acts without gallbladder rhythmic function and involves the BAs/farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and the BA/G protein-coupled BA receptor 1 (GPBAR-1) axes in the liver, intestine, brown adipose tissue and muscle. Alterations of intestinal microbiota leading to distorted homeostatic processes are also possible. According to this view, cholecystectomy, via BA-induced changes in the enterohepatic circulation, is a risk factor for the metabolic abnormalities and becomes another “fellow traveler” with, or another risk factor for the metabolic syndrome.
Chapter 38 - Postcholecystectomy problems
2016, Blumgart's Surgery of the Liver, Biliary Tract and Pancreas: Sixth EditionPostcholecystectomy diarrhea is a frequent problem?
2017, Revista Chilena de CirugiaLa colecistectomía laparoscópica es una de las intervenciones quirúrgicas más frecuentes en nuestro país. La diarrea poscolecistectomía es una entidad poco reconocida, con una prevalencia descrita entre el 0,9 y 35,6%, sin embargo, en Chile esto no ha sido claramente definido.
Determinar la prevalencia y características de la diarrea poscolecistectomía laparoscópica electiva en una muestra de pacientes chilenos.
Se aplicó una encuesta telefónica estructurada sobre consistencia y frecuencia de deposiciones, entre 4 y 6 meses después de la intervención, a los pacientes adultos operados de colecistectomía laparoscópica electivamente entre diciembre de 2014 y marzo de 2015. Se definió como «diarrea poscolecistectomía» la presencia de deposiciones líquidas o inusualmente disgregadas que hubiesen comenzado posteriormente a la intervención y se estableció el término de «diarrea prolongada» como la duración de síntomas mayor de 4 semanas.
Se encuestó a 100 pacientes (73% de mujeres). La prevalencia global de diarrea poscolecistectomía fue del 35% (n = 35). La prevalencia de pacientes con diarrea prolongada fue del 15% (n = 15). En el grupo con diarrea prolongada, se observó resolución completa de esta en el 57% de los pacientes (n = 8) en un plazo medio de 99 ± 29 días.
La diarrea poscolecistectomía es una entidad frecuente en nuestra población, con una alta prevalencia dentro de los primeros 28 días posteriores a la intervención. En la mayoría de los pacientes se resuelve en los primeros 6 meses.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is one of the most common surgical procedures in our country. Postcholecystectomy diarrhea is an unrecognized entity, with a reported prevalence between 0.9 and 35.6%, nonetheless in Chile this has not been clearly defined.
To determine the prevalence and characteristics of diarrhea following elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our institution.
A structured questionnaire about consistency and defecation frequency was applied to adult patients summited to an elective LC between December 2014 and February 2015, by a telephone survey within 4 and 6 months after the surgical procedure. Postcholecystectomy diarrhea was defined as the presence of liquid or unusually disrupted faecal material beginning after LC. Persistent diarrhea was established when diarrhea continued for a period longer than four weeks.
One hundred patients were included (73% women). The overall prevalence of postcholecystectomy diarrhea was 35% (n = 35). The prevalence of patients with persistent diarrhea was 15% (n = 15). In the group of patients with persistent diarrhea, complete resolution was observed on 57% of the cases (n = 8) within an average period of 99 ± 29 days.
Post cholecystectomy diarrhea is a frequent condition in our population, with a high prevalence within the first 28 days after LC. In most patients it resolved within 6 months.
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for cholelithiasis 2021
2023, Journal of Gastroenterology