Long-term follow-up of non-operated patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis
Csendes, A.; Csendes, P.; Burdiles, P.
Revista Medica de Chile 124(10): 1219-1224
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9887 PMID: 9239910 Document Number: 463532
In Chile, cholelithiasis is a serious public health problem and there are no studies about its natural history. To assess the long term evolution of patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic cholelithiasis. Ninety two patients with cholelithiasis (57 female), aged 15 to 80 years old and that were not operated, were followed during a period of 9 to 14 years. Thirteen patients were initially asymptomatic. Of them, seven bad complications or symptoms during follow-up and two were operated. Among the 69 symptomatic patients, 38 (55%) were not operated during follow-up, and seventeen (25%) did not have symptoms again. Ten patients died during follow-up, four due to complications of biliary tract stones. The present finding suggest that the evolution of cholelithiasis in Chile is more aggressive than abroad, and an early surgical treatment is warranted.