Systematic review and meta-analysis: does gall-bladder ejection fraction on cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy predict outcome after cholecystectomy in suspected functional biliary pain?

BACKGROUND: Patients with suspected functional biliary pain often undergo cholecystectomy if a decreased gall-bladder ejection fraction (GBEF <35%) is demonstrated by cholecystokinin cholescintigraphy. However, the validity of GBEF in predicting which patients will have symptomatic relief following cholecystectomy is unclear. AIM: To determine whether patients with suspected functional biliary pain with decreased GBEF have a better symptomatic outcome after cholecystectomy than those with normal GBEF.
METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature through MEDLINE and EMBASE databases.
RESULTS: We included nine studies with a total of 974 patients with suspected functional biliary pain; 362 patients underwent cholecystectomy. Most studies assessed outcome by direct patient interview. Mean ages across the studies ranged from 35 to 47 years; 78% of all patients were female. Mean duration of follow-up after surgery ranged from 1 to 2.5 years. After cholecystectomy, 94% of the patients with reduced GBEF had a positive outcome compared to 85% among those with normal GBEF. The pooled Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio for positive outcome was 1.37 (95% confidence interval 0.56-3.34), P=0.56.
CONCLUSION: These data do not support the use of GBEF to select patients with suspected functional biliary pain for cholecystectomy. Prospective randomized trials are required if this practice is to be evidence-based.