Post cholecystectomy common bile duct dilatation and associated symptomatology

BACKGROUND: Relationship between postcholecystectomy bile duct dilatation and associated symptomatology is a potential dilemma for treating surgeon for which various studies with variable results have been documented. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a 1 year prospective study conducted at IGMC, Shimla after taking proper consent and ethical approval from institutional ethical committee. Total 50 cases of symptomatic cholelithiasis belonging to either sex admitted in surgical wards of IGMC, Shimla for elective surgery were selected for present study. Cholecystectomy was done in all cases after doing all investigations. RESULTS: Postoperatively within 48 h symptoms were observed in 29 patients. Out of these, flatulence was present in 1, nausea and vomiting in 7 and 8, respectively. Combined flatulence vomiting in 5 and flatulence-reflux-nausea in 1 patient. After 1 month of interval, all patients were symptom free. CONCLUSION: Symptoms which were present in the postoperative patients were unrelated to dilatation of common bile duct. Either these symptoms were the persistent symptoms present before the operation or related to anaesthetic drugs.