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J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures) 2019 Jan 4;5(1):6-18. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Marion Bessin Liver Research Center, "Albert Einstein" College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

Approximately twenty per cent of adults have gallstones making it one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal diseases in Western countries. About twenty per cent of gallstone patients requires medical, endoscopic, or surgical therapies such as cholecystectomy due to the onset of gallstone-related symptoms or gallstone-related complications. Thus, patients with symptomatic, uncomplicated or complicated gallstones, regardless of the type of stones, represent one of the largest patient categories admitted to European hospitals. Read More

BMC Surg 2019 Jan 5;19(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China.

Background: The spontaneous rupture of the gallbladder is extremely rare, majority of ruptures occur secondary to traumatic injuries. Here, we report a case of spontaneous rupture of the gallbladder with probably cause of oral anticoagulants.

Case Presentation: A 51-year-old woman presented to the emergency room with sudden-onset severe abdominal pain, as well as hypotension and low level of hemoglobin. Read More

BMC Surg 2018 Nov 29;18(1):111. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Dongyang People's Hospital, 60 West Wuning Road, 322100, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China.

Background: The timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) performed after the mild acute biliary pancreatitis (MABP) is still controversial. We conducted a review to compare same-admission laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SA-LC) and delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC) after mild acute biliary pancreatitis (MABP).

Methods: We systematically searched several databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) for relevant trials published from 1 January 1992 to 1 June 2018. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2018 Dec 9;88(12):1337-1342. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

HPB and Transplant Unit, Austin Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Background: Acute biliary pain is the most common presentation of gallstone disease. Untreated patients risk recurrent pain, cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis and multiple hospital presentations. We examine the outcome of implementing a policy to offer laparoscopic cholecystectomy on index presentation to patients with biliary colic in a tertiary hospital in Australia. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Oct 23;19(11). Epub 2018 Oct 23.

Giotto Biotech, S.r.l, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Precision medicine may significantly contribute to rapid disease diagnosis and targeted therapy, but relies on the availability of detailed, subject specific, clinical information. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H⁻NMR) spectroscopy of body fluids can extract individual metabolic fingerprints. Herein, we studied 64 patients admitted to the Florence main hospital emergency room with severe abdominal pain. Read More

Yale J Biol Med 2018 09 21;91(3):237-241. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Section of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.

Gallbladder agenesis (GA) is an extremely rare congenital entity. The incidence is around 1 per 6500 live births. The majority of patients, estimated between 50 to 70 percent, remain asymptomatic while those who are symptomatic report symptoms mimicking biliary colic. Read More

J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Sep 14. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Background And Aim: This study aims to assess the clinical validity and safety of single-operator cholangioscopy system (SOCS) for the treatment of concomitant gallbladder stones and secondary common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods: This retrospective study included 10 consecutive patients who had small-sized stones (< 1 cm) in both the gallbladder and CBD; the patients underwent SOCS treatment from June 2016 to December 2016. The clinical validity of this minimally invasive surgery was determined by the operation success rate, stone removal rate, postoperative hospital stay, hospitalization cost, and contrast images before and after the operation. Read More

Surg Endosc 2018 Sep 12. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

General/Bariatric Surgery, Mercy Hospital, 540 East Jefferson Street, Suite 205, Iowa City, IA, 52245, USA.

Background: The (99m) technetium-labelled hepato imino diacetic acid (HIDA) scan is widely used to evaluate patients with biliary colic with a normal trans-abdominal ultrasound scan. Most studies recommend cholecystectomy for patients with biliary dyskinesia, defined by gallbladder ejection fraction (GBEF) of less than 35-40% on HIDA scan. There are no recommendations regarding management of hyperkinetic gallbladder defined by GBEF of greater than 80% on HIDA scan. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2018 22;51:181-185. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Rd, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, UK. Electronic address:

Introduction: Duplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital biliary anomaly and may present with similar pathology to that seen in a single gallbladder. We present a previously unreported case of a symptomatic duplex gallbladder arising directly from a long segment of the right hepatic duct.

Presentation: A 23 years old female was referred to our team with right upper quadrant pain suggestive of biliary colic. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2018 Jun 4;13(3):640-643. Epub 2018 Apr 4.

Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

We present the case of a 24-year-old woman with morbid obesity who came to the emergency department with right upper quadrant abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Her workup included a right upper quadrant ultrasound suggestive of a small gallbladder with cholelithiasis without sonographic evidence of acute cholecystitis. She underwent attempted laparoscopic cholecystectomy with no identifiable gallbladder during surgery. Read More

S Afr J Surg 2018 Jun;56(2):36-40

Department of Surgery, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for the management of symptomatic cholelithiasis and complications of gallstone disease. Mini laparotomy cholecystectomy (MOC) may be a more appropriate option in the resource constrained rural setting due to its widespread applicability and comparable outcome with LC. The study aimed to provide an epidemiological analysis of gallstone disease in the rural population and to evaluate the outcome of MOC in a rural hospital. Read More

Am Surg 2018 Jun;84(6):868-874

A small fraction of patients undergoing cholecystectomy for biliary colic are subsequently diagnosed with an obstructive pancreatic head mass. We review our experience with such patients to provide insight into improving evaluation before cholecystectomy. Retrospective chart review of patients undergoing cholecystectomy from 2004 to 2015 identified six patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary colic before being diagnosed with a pancreatic head neoplasm within six months after cholecystectomy. Read More

J Emerg Med 2018 09 23;55(3):e71-e73. Epub 2018 Jun 23.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Background: Recurrent abdominal pain, particularly in the right upper quadrant (RUQ) in a patient with a history of cholecystectomy, known as postcholecystectomy syndrome, requires a broad differential diagnosis. Pathology of a retained gallbladder remnant is an exceedingly rare etiology of this pain.

Case Report: A 49-year-old woman who had previously undergone an open cholecystectomy presented to the emergency department with several hours of postprandial RUQ pain and emesis. Read More

Am J Surg 2019 Jan 18;217(1):98-102. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Yale School of Medicine, Department of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Surgical Emergencies, New Haven, CT, USA. Electronic address:

Background: We hypothesized that trends in total bilirubin in the context of cholecystitis and symptomatic cholelithiasis could be used to guide testing for the presence of common bile duct stones (CBDS).

Methods: A review of adult patients with acute cholecystitis or biliary colic with elevated total bilirubin and at least two levels drawn prior to procedural intervention was performed. Trends of total bilirubin and other serum makers were examined to predict the presence of CBDS. Read More

J Clin Gastroenterol 2018 Aug;52(7):579-589

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography and endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) with subsequent cholecystectomy is the standard of care for the management of patients with choledocholithiasis. There is conflicting evidence in terms of mortality reduction, prevention of complications specifically biliary pancreatitis and cholangitis with the use of early cholecystectomy particularly in high-risk surgical and elderly patients.

Aims: We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to compare the early cholecystectomy versus wait and watch strategy after ES. Read More

Clin Med Insights Case Rep 2018 20;11:1179547618771699. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

Background And Study Aims: The prevalence of gallbladder cancer (GBC) varies between different parts of the world. This study is a review of literature and an update of a previously published study conducted in our university and aims to reassess the incidence of GBC over the past 2 decades.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study between 2002 and 2016. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Apr 13;2018. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

Department of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

We present the case of a young female with symptoms of biliary colic and a biochemical profile consistent with biliary obstruction. Imaging was suspicious for Mirizzi's syndrome. Intraoperatively, the patient was found to have a complete intrahepatic gallbladder causing common hepatic duct compression with final pathology confirming acute cholecystitis. Read More

J Am Coll Surg 2018 Jun 2;226(6):1030-1035. Epub 2018 Mar 2.

Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Electronic address:

Background: Bile spillage (BS) occurs frequently during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, yet its impact on postoperative outcomes remains unknown. We hypothesized that BS increases the risk of surgical site infections (SSI) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Study Design: Patients older than 18, who were admitted to an academic hospital for a laparoscopic (or laparoscopic converted to open) cholecystectomy, from May 2010 to March 2017, were prospectively included. Read More

BMC Gastroenterol 2018 Feb 27;18(1):32. Epub 2018 Feb 27.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Background: In patients with common bile duct stones (CBDS) and intact gallbladder, further management for the gallbladder after the CBDS clearance is still controversial. The relationship between gallbladder motility and the biliary complications were seldom discussed. Our study is to predict the subsequent biliary complications by gallbladder function test using fatty meal sonography (FMS) in patients with CBDS who had been treated by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Read More

Cureus 2017 Nov 10;9(11):e1834. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

Internal Medicine Residency, Florida Hospital-Orlando.

The congenital absence of the gallbladder (CAG) is a rare condition with an incidence of 13-65 cases/ 100,000 in the general population. This occurs when the gallbladder and the cystic duct fail to bud from the common bile duct during the fifth week of gestation. Most commonly, the patients with congenital absence of the gallbladder are asymptomatic. Read More

Int Emerg Nurs 2018 03 20;37:3-5. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Voutes, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Electronic address:

Introduction: Acute cholecystitis and biliary colic may have signs and symptoms similar to those of Acute Coronary Syndrome(ACS) along with ischemic ECG changes. Cholecystitis and/or biliary colic have been both reported as trigger factors for bradyarrhythmia in the literature.

Case Report: A 78-year-old male patient was admitted to our Emergency Department (ED) due to acute abdominal pain. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2017 08 23;47(4):1137-1143. Epub 2017 Aug 23.

Background/aim: The aim of our study was to emphasize the importance of routine bedside biliary ultrasonography (USG) for the differential diagnosis of biliary tract disorders in patients admitted with acute isolated epigastric pain. Materials and methods: Adult patients who were admitted to the emergency department with acute isolated epigastric pain were included in the study. Emergency residents (ERs) were asked whether they planned to perform biliary USG during the initial evaluation and following diagnosis/treatment (secondary evaluation) of these patients. Read More

Prim Care 2017 Dec 5;44(4):575-597. Epub 2017 Oct 5.

Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, BI 4070 Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

The prevalence of gallstones is 10% to 15% in adults. Individuals with acute cholecystitis present with right upper quadrant pain, fever, and leukocytosis. Management includes supportive care and cholecystectomy. Read More

Pol Przegl Chir 2017 Aug;89(4):46-49

Department of Oncological Surgery Medical University in Gdańsk.

Breast cancer has high metastatic potential with distant metastases involving mainly lungs, liver and bones. Less frequently it gives distant spread to other organs. Herein we would like to present a very rare case of an acute cholecystitis which turned out to be a metastatic breast cancer in previously healthy woman. Read More

S Afr J Surg 2017 Jun;55(2):52

Surgery, University of Witwatersrand, Surgery, Johannesburg.

Background: Incidental gallbladder cancer (iGBC) is found in 0.3-1.5% of cholecystectomy specimens. Read More

Obes Surg 2018 02;28(2):469-473

Department of General Surgery, Acibadem Altunizade Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: There is not any consensus on concomitant cholecystectomy for asymptomatic gallbladder stones during laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). The aim of this study was to evaluate the surveillance results of the LSG patients who have asymptomatic gallbladder stones and did not undergo cholecystectomy.

Methods: Patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with preoperatively detected gallbladder stones and completed at least 6 months follow-up were included in the study. Read More

ANZ J Surg 2018 Jun 7;88(6):E517-E521. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital and North Shore Private Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Previous studies have focused on the presence of reflux in selected cohorts with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), but little is known regarding the wider incidence of occult reflux and associated mucosal changes. We aimed to correlate gallbladder mucosal abnormalities with objective evidence of PBM and occult pancreaticobiliary reflux (PBR) in an Australian population undergoing cholecystectomy.

Methods: Patients undergoing cholecystectomy between September 2010 and September 2012 were eligible for inclusion. Read More

Am J Surg 2018 Jan 19;215(1):116-119. Epub 2017 Jun 19.

McLaren Greater Lansing, Lansing, MI, USA. Electronic address:

This is the largest single center retrospective study to date looking at response to laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acalculous biliary disease. A chart review was completed on 1116 patients from 2009 to 2014 who had admitting diagnoses related to acalculous cholecystitis and biliary colic. Four hundred and seventy four patients were available for long term follow up (6 months or longer). Read More

Scand J Gastroenterol 2017 Sep 9;52(9):1016-1021. Epub 2017 Jun 9.

a Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Surgery, Skane University Hospital , Lund University , Lund , Sweden.

Objectives: Gallstone-related disease is the second most common non-obstetric cause, following appendicitis, for acute abdomen in pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate treatment strategies, changes over time and outcome.

Materials And Methods: All consecutive patients with symptomatic gallstone-related disease during pregnancy admitted to Skane University hospital in Lund and Malmö 2001-2015 were analysed retrospectively. Read More

J Ultrasound Med 2017 Oct 6;36(10):1975-1985. Epub 2017 Jun 6.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Acute right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain is a common presenting symptom in emergency departments and outpatient medical practices, and is most commonly attributable to biliary and hepatic pathology. Ultrasound should be used as a first-line imaging modality for the diagnosis of gallstones and cholecystitis, as it allows the differentiation of medical and surgical causes of upper abdominal pathology, and in many circumstances is sufficient to guide patient management. Knowledge of strengths and limitations of ultrasound in the evaluation of RUQ is paramount in correct diagnosis. Read More

Arch Pediatr 2017 Jul 2;24(7):634-636. Epub 2017 Jun 2.

Service de chirurgie pédiatrique viscérale, CHU d'Amiens, avenue Laennec-Salouel, 80054 Amiens cedex 1, France. Electronic address:

Isolated gallbladder agenesis is a very rare and unrecognized congenital anomaly. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but 23% present with symptoms suggestive of biliary colic. Ultrasound investigation often fails to diagnose this malformation, misinterpreted as scleroatrophic gallbladder, leading to unnecessary and potentially dangerous surgery. Read More

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2017 Sep;29(9):1017-1021

Departments of aInternal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology bSurgery cBiostatistics Unit, Clinical Research Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.

Background: Patients with gallstone disease can present with elevated liver function tests (LFTs). It is often challenging to differentiate those with a common bile duct (CBD) stone from those without a CBD stone on the basis of the LFTs levels. In this study, we aim to evaluate the predictors of a CBD stones among patients presenting with symptomatic gallbladder disease and elevated LFTs. Read More

Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2017 Jul 4;18(5):603-609. Epub 2017 Apr 4.

1 Department of General Surgery, Uludag University , Bursa, Turkey .

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for the treatment of symptomatic gallbladder stones. As infections are rare in uncomplicated LC, it is widely accepted that prophylactic antibiotics need not be administered, and guidelines do not support routine antibiotic prophylaxis during elective LC. However, routine antibiotic prophylaxis for elective LC is still popular in many clinical settings. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2017 Apr 2;18:334-338. Epub 2017 Apr 2.

Department of Internal Medicine, Canton Medical Education Foundation, Canton, OH, USA.

BACKGROUND Gallbladder agenesis (GA) is an extremely rare anatomic anomaly with a reported incidence of less than 0.5%. It is usually asymptomatic, but can present with features of biliary colic and cholecystitis. Read More

S Afr J Surg 2016 Sep;54(3):8-12

Head of Department - Specialised Surgery, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. Department of Surgery, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is a common surgical procedure performed for symptomatic gallstones. There is a trend towards early cholecystectomy for patients with acute cholecystitis who present timeously. Local inflammation has been identified as a risk factor for bile duct injuries. Read More

J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 2017 Mar 13;27(3):306-310. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

2 Rocky Mountain Pediatric Surgery, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children , Denver, Colorado.

Purpose: To evaluate two-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (2I-LC) in children, and compare outcomes with four-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy (4P-LC).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on children (≤21 years) with gallbladder disease treated with 2I-LC or 4P-LC between February 2010 and February 2016. 2I-LC is performed using two 5-mm ports and a 2-mm endoscopic grasper within a 12-mm umbilical incision, and a 3-mm subxiphoid port for dissection. Read More

World J Surg 2017 05;41(5):1234-1238

Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK.

Background: A number of prominent surgical trials and clinical guidelines regard length of hospital stay and rates of daycase surgery as being of upmost importance following cholecystectomy. However, it is unclear whether these outcomes also matter to patients. This study aimed to identify the factors patients regard as most important when admitted with acute gallstone pathology. Read More

Laeknabladid 2016 Desember;102(12):538-542

Introduction: Gallstone disease in pregnant patients and their management in Iceland has not been studied. Management of these patients changed after the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, symptoms, diagnostic methods and management of gallstone disease during pregnancy at the National University Hospital of Iceland during the years 1990-2010. Read More

J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 2017 Mar 22;27(3):322-327. Epub 2016 Nov 22.

3 Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota.

Introduction: Few studies have assessed the impact of obesity on laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) in pediatric patients.

Materials And Methods: Children who underwent LC were identified from the 2012 to 2013 American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatrics data. Patient characteristics, operative details, and outcomes were compared. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2016 Nov 17;141(23):1677-1682. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Gallstones and their complications are one of most frequent gastroenterological diseases leading to hospital admission in Europe. Cholesterol stones are the most common; except of few patients there is a direct link to lifestyle. Obesity, diabetes and insufficient physical activity represent the major risk factors. Read More

Ann Transl Med 2016 Oct;4(19):362

Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.

Background: Acute abdominal pain (AAP) accounts for 7-10% of all Emergency Department (ED) visits. Nevertheless, the epidemiology of AAP in the ED is scarcely known. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and the outcomes of AAP in an adult population admitted to an urban ED. Read More

Br J Surg 2016 Nov 17;103(12):1716-1726. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Background: The aims of this prospective population-based cohort study were to identify the patient and hospital characteristics associated with emergency cholecystectomy, and the influences of these in determining variations between hospitals.

Methods: Data were collected for consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy in acute UK and Irish hospitals between 1 March and 1 May 2014. Potential explanatory variables influencing the performance of emergency cholecystectomy were analysed by means of multilevel, multivariable logistic regression modelling using a two-level hierarchical structure with patients (level 1) nested within hospitals (level 2). Read More

World J Gastroenterol 2016 Sep;22(33):7507-17

Mohammad S Khuroo, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir 190010, India.

Hepatobiliary and pancreatic ascariasis (HPA) was described as a clinical entity from Kashmir, India in 1985. HPA is caused by invasion and migration of nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides, in to the biliary tract and pancreatic duct. Patients present with biliary colic, cholangitis, cholecystitis, hepatic abscesses and acute pancreatitis. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016 Sep 9;9:CD006390. Epub 2016 Sep 9.

Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via F. Sforza, 35, Milan, Italy, 20122.

Background: Cholelithiasis refers to the presence of gallstones, which are concretions that form in the biliary tract, usually in the gallbladder. Cholelithiasis is one of the most common surgical problems worldwide and is particularly prevalent in most Western countries.Biliary colic is the term used for gallbladder pain experienced by a person with gallstones and without overt infection around the gallbladder. Read More

Surg Endosc 2017 04 7;31(4):1651-1658. Epub 2016 Sep 7.

Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health Systems, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, 48109-5343, MI, USA.

Background: Since the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), there has been continued evolution in technique, instrumentation and postoperative management. With increased experience, LC has migrated to the outpatient setting. We asked whether increased availability and experience has impacted incidence of and indications for LC. Read More

Oxf Med Case Reports 2016 Aug 29;2016(8):omw040. Epub 2016 Aug 29.

General Surgery, Hereford County Hospital, Hereford, UK.

Congenital absence of the gallbladder has a reported incidence between 0.013 and 0.075% (Singh . Read More

F1000Res 2016 26;5. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Division of Gastroenterology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.

Gallstones, particularly cholesterol gallstones, are common in Western populations and may cause symptoms such as biliary colic or complications such as acute cholecystitis or gallstone pancreatitis. Recent studies have allowed for a better understanding of the risk of symptoms or complications in patients with gallstones. In addition, newer data suggest an association of gallstones with overall mortality, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal cancers, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Read More

World J Surg 2016 12;40(12):2892-2897

Upper GI/HPB Unit, Department of General Surgery, The Canberra Hospital, Building 6, Yamba Drive, Garran, ACT, 2605, Australia.

Background: Each year, 1-4 % of people with known gallstones become symptomatic, either presenting with biliary colic or as acute cholecystitis. The distinction between both diagnoses remains challenging. To aid the proper diagnosis, the revised 2013 Tokyo Guidelines (TG 2013) were proposed with a self-acclaimed diagnostic accuracy of over 90 %. Read More