Influence on gallbladder volume of early postoperative gastric supply of nutrients

Background & Aim: The gallbladder volume is a predictor of biliary stasis and the formation of biliary sludge. Biliary stasis and sludge have been recently recognized as the precursors of acute acalculous cholecystitis, as well as ‘idiopathic’ postoperative pancreatitis, rare but very serious complications after surgery. The aim of the study was to establish how early postoperative gastric supply of nutrients affects the gallbladder volume in patients after noncardiac and cardiac surgery. Methods: In the two prospective, randomized studies 40 patients (study I–noncardiac surgery) treated at surgical ICU after major elective extrahepatobiliary and extragastrointestinal surgeries (7 thoracic, 19 vascular, 14 urological) and 40 patients (study II–cardiac surgery) treated at cardiosurgical ICU after CABG surgery were analyzed. In both studies the patients were divided into two groups: control group C (study I: 20 patients, age 45±18 yrs, male 65%; study II: 20 patients age 58±7 yrs, male 60%) and group E (group of early postoperative gastric supply of nutrients) (study I: 20 patients, age 52±17 yrs, male 50%; study II: 20 patients; age 59±8 yrs, male 65%). For the first 24 hours the patients in group C received only crystalloid solutions and the gallbladder volume was verified 24 hours after the surgery. In group E, postoperative gastric supply of nutrients began 18 hours after surgery (Osmolite, Ross; first 3 hours 30 ml/h and second 3 hours 50 ml/h; total 240 ml after 6 hours). In all patients sonographic measurement of gallbladder volume was performed immediately before surgery and 6 hours after the start of feeding (24 hours after surgery). The measurement was done with ultrasonographic scanner Hitachi 405 EUB (convex probe 3.5–5MHz) by the same specialist, and the volume was calculated using the ellipsoid method. Results: The gallbladder volume measured by ultrasonography 24 hours after surgery in study I (noncardiac surgery) in group E amounted to 43±25 ml while in control group C it was significantly higher, i.e. 67±30 ml (P<0.05). In study II (cardiac surgery) in group E gallbladder volume amounted to 59±15 ml while in control group C it was also significantly higher, i.e. 71±11 ml (P<0.05). Conclusion: An early postoperative gastric supply of nutrients after both noncardiac and cardiac adult surgery diminishes the volume and probably stimulates the motility of the gallbladder, thus preventing biliary stasis and the formation of biliary sludge.