J Neurogastroenterol Motil.  2012 Apr;18(2):187-193.

Does Cholecystectomy Increase the Esophageal Alkaline Reflux? Evaluation by Impedance-pH Technique

• Uyanikoglu A
• Akyuz F
• Ermis F
• Arici S
• Bas G
• Cakirca M
• Baran B
• Mungan Z

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
The aim of this study is to investigate the reflux patterns in patients with galbladder stone and the change of reflux patterns after cholecystectomy in such patients.
METHODS
Fourteen patients with cholecystolithiasis and a control group including 10 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this prospective study. Demographical findings, reflux symptom score scale and 24-hour impedance pH values of the 14 cholecystolithiasis cases and the control group were evaluated. The impedance pH study was repeated 3 months after cholecystectomy.
RESULTS
Age, gender, and BMI were not different between the two groups. Total and supine weakly alkaline reflux time (%) (1.0 vs 22.5, P = 0.028; 201.85 vs 9.65, P = 0.012), the longest episodes of total, upright and supine weakly alkaline reflux mediums (11 vs 2, P = 0.025; 8.5 vs 1.0, P = 0.035; 3 vs 0, P = 0.027), total and supine weakly alkaline reflux time in minutes (287.35 vs 75.10, P = 0.022; 62.5 vs 1.4, P = 0.017), the number of alkaline reflux episodes (162.5 vs 72.5, P = 0.022) were decreased with statistical significance. No statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of symptoms between the subjects in the control group and the patients with cholecystolithiasis, in preoperative, postoperative and postcholecystectomy status.
CONCLUSIONS
Significant reflux symptoms did not occur after cholecystectomy. Post cholecystectomy weakly alkaline reflux was decreased, but it was determined that acid reflux increased after cholecystectomy by impedance pH-metry in the study group.

Keyword

Cholecystectomy; Cholecystolithiasis; Gastroesophageal reflux; Impedance pH

MeSH Terms

Cholecystectomy
Cholecystolithiasis
Electric Impedance
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Prospective Studies