A clinical study: prevalence and management of cholelithiasis

Background: Cholelithiasis is a chronic recurrent disease of the hepatobiliary system. The impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bile acids and bilirubin are characterized by gallstone formation. The prevalence of cholelithasis varies and has been reported as 2-29% in India, and increased in the recent years. In the present study, apart from studying the epidemiology i.e., demographic factors, dietary habits, clinical presentation, diagnostic tools and management, it also looks at the stone analysis, bile culture and complications after surgery in rural population in central India. To study the modes of presentation of gallstones, various treatment modalities, their outcome and complications and chemical analysis of gallstones in relation to the type of diet. Methods: Department of Surgery at NPK Salve Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, from September 2010 to October 2012 on 104 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria selected for the study. Clinical symptoms were noted according to clinical history of the patients. The ultrasonography scanning of the abdomen performed, open/laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.56 years with a male-female ratio of 0.52:1. Mixed type of diet, and multiple gallbladder calculi of mixed type was observed. Wound infection was the commonest complication in open cholecystectomy group, and the mean hospital stay was significantly more in this group.