Improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life after cholecystectomy

Background Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the accepted treatment for symptomatic cholelithiasis but has been criticized as an overused procedure. This study assesses the effectiveness of LC on reduction in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and the impact on quality of life (QOL). Methods A prospective cohort of subjects evaluated for gallstone disease between August 2001 and July 2004 completed preoperative and postoperative GI gallbladder symptom surveys (GISS) and SF36 QOL surveys. The GISS was developed to quantify the magnitude, severity, and distressfulness of 16 GI symptoms. Surveys were scored and evaluated using paired t tests. Results Fifty-five subjects were included in the final analysis. The GISS revealed significant improvement in biliary type symptoms but not reflux or irritable bowel symptoms after LC (P> .05). Significant improvement was seen in QOL (P< .01). Conclusion This study supports the utility of LC by showing not only a significant reduction of GI symptoms but also marked improvement in patients’ general QOL.