Biliary reflux after cholecystectomy: a prospective study.

The authors carried out a prospective study to ascertain whether cholecystectomy itself might be the cause of duodenogastric reflux. Patients with cholelithiasis were examined and underwent the following tests: hemanalysis, gastroscopy with biopsy, 24 hour pH-metry and acetaminophen test. Twelve patients were selected. Six months after the operation the tests were repeated. All patients were asymptomatic. Hemanalysis was normal in all 12 patients and no difference was seen in the tests of 5 of the patients; however in the other 7 differences were observed in all the tests. The authors conclude that cholecystectomy helps to provoke duodenogastric reflux in predisposed patients, and that this reflux may be asymptomatic.